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In American football, linemen are generally the strongest and largest players on the team. While their size is an advantage on the field, this may not be the case for their cardiovascular (CV) health. To help draw attention to heart disease and the specific cardiovascular challenges of retired athletes, Siemens has announced a long-term partnership with the Living Heart Foundation (LHF) in which Siemens will be loaning ultrasound systems to the LHF for their CV screening events throughout the year.

A winning partnership

Ultrasound is one of the most widely used and accepted forms of diagnostic imaging to evaluate and diagnose cardiovascular disease. Its most common applications include assessing disease of the heart valves, finding abnormal blood flow patterns and detecting a thickening of the heart walls. Retired NFL linemen are more than twice as likely as the general population to have a syndrome that puts them at risk of heart disease, stroke and other CV diseases according to the LHF. Luckily, early intervention, including diagnostic health screenings, can help tackle these conditions.

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Touchdown for early intervention

Not only athletes suffer side effects due to their size including heart disease, sleep apnea, diabetes, high cholesterol and the Metabolic Syndrome – a growing number of the general population also are afflicted by these conditions. The founder and director of LHF, Archie Roberts, MD, reports, “Fortunately, with early intervention, including diagnostic imaging, athletes can take proactive steps to curb these conditions.” During the screening, players received a series of tests including electrocardiograms, cardiac and carotid artery ultrasound, blood tests, body mass composition, as well as other analyses.

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Tough offensive against heart disease

Equipped with Siemens ACUSON Sequoia™ ultrasound systems, the LHF conducted heart screenings throughout 2008. The technology provides clinicians with advanced capabilities for performing cardiac mechanics studies, intracardiac echocardiography, and vascular applications. Klaus Hambüchen, Chief Executive Officer for the Ultrasound Business Unit at Siemens Healthcare, states, “Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America today, and Siemens has a long-standing interest in helping those at risk to identify the early warning signs and take appropriate actions.”