Cardiac Risk in the Young
Encyclopedia
Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) is a humanitarian charitable organization
helping to raise awareness of cardiac risk, Sudden Cardiac Death
(SCD), Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS, SADS). Established in May 1995 by Alison Cox (MBE) and based in the United Kingdom
. The former tennis player Mark Cox is one of its patrons.
The organization initially promotes the heart screening of young people through ECG Testing Programmes and contributes to medical research. CRY holds ECG screening clinics for those aged 14 to 35 at three locations in the UK. The charity also offers support to those who have suffered a loss through a network of affected families & counselling groups, heart
screening
, ECG testing, sponsors medical research, donates medical equipment to surgeries
and hospital
s, funds the CRY Centre for Sports Cardiology at the Olympic Medical Institute.
Some of the CRY's programmes, mainly the counselling programme, are financed by a grant from the Department of Health
.
CRY can provide medical information on:
. From August 2004 the Postcard has been re-launched as region specific including South West, North East, South, North West, Scotland and Wales versions.
In February 2009 the postcard campaign was updated to "12 a week" and continues to draw attention the number of young people with undetected heart conditions.
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
helping to raise awareness of cardiac risk, Sudden Cardiac Death
Sudden Cardiac Death
Sudden cardiac death is natural death from cardiac causes, heralded by abrupt loss of consciousness within one hour of the onset of acute symptoms. Other forms of sudden death may be noncardiac in origin...
(SCD), Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS, SADS). Established in May 1995 by Alison Cox (MBE) and based in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The former tennis player Mark Cox is one of its patrons.
The organization initially promotes the heart screening of young people through ECG Testing Programmes and contributes to medical research. CRY holds ECG screening clinics for those aged 14 to 35 at three locations in the UK. The charity also offers support to those who have suffered a loss through a network of affected families & counselling groups, heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
screening
Screening (medicine)
Screening, in medicine, is a strategy used in a population to detect a disease in individuals without signs or symptoms of that disease. Unlike what generally happens in medicine, screening tests are performed on persons without any clinical sign of disease....
, ECG testing, sponsors medical research, donates medical equipment to surgeries
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
and hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
s, funds the CRY Centre for Sports Cardiology at the Olympic Medical Institute.
Some of the CRY's programmes, mainly the counselling programme, are financed by a grant from the Department of Health
Department of Health (United Kingdom)
The Department of Health is a department of the United Kingdom government with responsibility for government policy for health and social care matters and for the National Health Service in England along with a few elements of the same matters which are not otherwise devolved to the Scottish,...
.
Objectives
- To emphasise the considerable amount that can be done if the condition is diagnosed.
- To support medical research into Sudden Death Syndrome.
- To offer counsel and support to families affected.
- To highlight the symptoms.
- To put in place a national testing programme.
CRY can provide medical information on:
- Hypertrophic CardiomyopathyHypertrophic cardiomyopathyHypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease of the myocardium in which a portion of the myocardium is hypertrophied without any obvious cause...
(HCM) - Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVC)
- Dilated CardiomyopathyDilated cardiomyopathyDilated cardiomyopathy or DCM is a condition in which the heart becomes weakened and enlarged and cannot pump blood efficiently. The decreased heart function can affect the lungs, liver, and other body systems....
(DCM) - Restrictive cardiomyopathyRestrictive cardiomyopathyRestrictive cardiomyopathy is a form of cardiomyopathy in which the walls are rigid, and the heart is restricted from stretching and filling with blood properly....
(RCM) - MyocarditisMyocarditisMyocarditis is inflammation of heart muscle . It resembles a heart attack but coronary arteries are not blocked.Myocarditis is most often due to infection by common viruses, such as parvovirus B19, less commonly non-viral pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi or Trypanosoma cruzi, or as a...
- Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
- Ion Channelopathies - Long QT syndromeLong QT syndromeThe long QT syndrome is a rare inborn heart condition in which delayed repolarization of the heart following a heartbeat increases the risk of episodes of torsade de pointes . These episodes may lead to palpitations, fainting and sudden death due to ventricular fibrillation...
(inc. Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndromeJervell and Lange-Nielsen syndromeJervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome, a type of long QT syndrome, causes the cardiac muscle to take longer than usual to recharge between beats. If untreated, the irregular heartbeats, called arrhythmias, can lead to fainting, seizures, or sudden death...
& Romano-Ward syndromeRomano-Ward syndromeRomano-Ward syndrome, is the major variant of long QT syndrome. It is a condition that causes a disruption of the heart's normal rhythm. This disorder is a form of long QT syndrome, which is a heart condition that causes the cardiac muscle to take longer than usual to recharge between beats...
), Brugada, Lev-Lenegre's SyndromeLev's diseaseLev's disease is an acquired complete heart block due to idiopathic fibrosis and calcification of the electrical conduction system of the heart...
) - Wolff-Parkinson-White syndromeWolff-Parkinson-White syndromeWolff–Parkinson–White syndrome is a disorder of the heart in which the ventricles of the heart contract prematurely due to an accessory pathway known as the bundle of Kent. This accessory pathway is an abnormal electrical communication from the atria to the ventricles...
(WPW) - Coronary artery anomalyCoronary artery anomalyCoronary artery anomalies are congenital abnormalities in the coronary anatomy of the heart. By definition, these abnormalities are variants of anatomy occurring in less than 1% of the general population. They are often found in combination with other congenital heart defects...
(CAAs) - Marfan SyndromeMarfan syndromeMarfan syndrome is a genetic disorder of the connective tissue. People with Marfan's tend to be unusually tall, with long limbs and long, thin fingers....
- Other cardiac conditions - Endocardial fibroelastosisEndocardial fibroelastosisEndocardial Fibroelastosis is a rare heart disorder usually associated with children two years old and younger. It may also be considered a reaction to stress, not necessarily a specific disease.It should not be confused with endomyocardial fibrosis....
(EFE), TachycardiaTachycardiaTachycardia comes from the Greek words tachys and kardia . Tachycardia typically refers to a heart rate that exceeds the normal range for a resting heart rate...
, Antibiotic Prophylaxis, Churg-Strauss SyndromeChurg-Strauss syndromeChurg–Strauss syndrome is a medium and small vessel autoimmune vasculitis, leading to necrosis. It involves mainly the blood vessels of the lungs , gastrointestinal system, and peripheral nerves, but also affects the heart, skin and kidneys. It is a rare disease that is non-inheritable and...
, Right bundle branch blockRight bundle branch blockA right bundle branch block is a defect in the heart's electrical conduction system.During a right bundle branch block, the right ventricle is not directly activated by impulses travelling through the right bundle branch. The left ventricle however, is still normally activated by the left bundle...
(RBBB), Kawasaki DiseaseKawasaki diseaseKawasaki disease , also known as Kawasaki syndrome, lymph node syndrome and mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, is an autoimmune disease in which the medium-sized blood vessels throughout the body become inflamed. It is largely seen in children under five years of age...
Postcard Campaigns
On the 15th July 2004 CRy launched its National Postcard Campaign to highlight the deaths of eight young people per week from undiagnosed heart problems by featuring their pictures. The campaign was launched at a Parliamentary Reception in WestminsterWestminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
. From August 2004 the Postcard has been re-launched as region specific including South West, North East, South, North West, Scotland and Wales versions.
In February 2009 the postcard campaign was updated to "12 a week" and continues to draw attention the number of young people with undetected heart conditions.
Objectives
- To emphasise the considerable amount that can be done if the condition is diagnosed.
- To support medical research into Sudden Death Syndrome.
- To offer counsel and support to families affected.
- To highlight the symptoms.
- To put in place a national testing programme.
Patrons
- Sir Ian Botham OBEIan BothamSir Ian Terence Botham OBE is a former England Test cricketer and Test team captain, and current cricket commentator. He was a genuine all-rounder with 14 centuries and 383 wickets in Test cricket, and remains well-known by his nickname "Beefy"...
- Former England Cricketer and Honorary President of CRY - Rob Andrew MBERob AndrewChristopher Robert "Rob" Andrew MBE , nicknamed "Squeaky", is a former English rugby union footballer and currently Director of Operations at the RFU. He was formerly the Director of Rugby of Newcastle Falcons. As a player, Andrew was assured in his kicking and defensive skills off both feet...
- Former England Rugby Union International. RFU Director of Elite Rugby - Jeremy Bates - Former British Tennis Player
- Mark Cox MBE - Former British Tennis Player
- Nick EasterNick EasterNick Easter is a rugby union rugby player who plays at No. 8 or Flanker for Harlequins and England.He is the brother of Sale Sharks player Mark Easter and the nephew of author Anne Easter Smith. His father John, played squash professionally and reached number 1 in Britain and No.9 in the world...
- Harlequins and England Rugby Player - Nick Gillingham MBENick GillinghamNicholas Gillingham is a former swimmer from Great Britain, who participated in three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1988. In August 1989, he tied the existing world record in the long-course 200 m breaststroke, only to co-hold it for 1-day before the other co-holder, Mike...
- Former British Swimmer - James Cracknell OBEJames CracknellJames Cracknell, OBE is a British rowing champion and double Olympic gold medalist and adventurer. Cracknell is married to TV and radio presenter Beverley Turner; they have three children. In the New Year Honours List, 2004, he was appointed OBE for services to sport...
- Former British Rower. Winner of 2 Olympic gold medals - Ben BrownBen Brown (journalist)Ben Brown is a journalist and news presenter for the BBC's rolling news channel BBC News. He has also presented the BBC News at Six and the BBC News at Ten and is currently an occasional presenter on the BBC Weekend News on BBC One...
- BBC Journalist - Simon HallidaySimon HallidaySimon John Halliday is a former English rugby union international. He also played nine first-class cricket cricket matches...
- Former England Rugby Union International - Kathryn Harries - Opera Singer - Soprano
- John InverdaleJohn InverdaleJohn Inverdale , is an English radio and television broadcaster who works for the BBC, mainly covering sporting events.-Biography:...
- BBC Sports Presenter and Journalist - Robert Jones MBERobert Jones (rugby player)Robert Nicholas Jones is a Welsh rugby union coach and former player. He was capped 54 times for Wales during his career, at that time a record...
- Former Wales Rugby Union International - Emily MaitlisEmily MaitlisEmily Maitlis is a Canadian-born British journalist and newsreader, currently employed by the BBC.-Career:Raised in Sheffield, she was educated at the local King Edward VII School...
- BBC News Presenter - Professor William McKenna - Professor of Cardiology
- Sir Steven Redgrave CBESteve RedgraveSir Steven Geoffrey Redgrave CBE is an English rower who won gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000. He has also won three Commonwealth Games gold medals and nine World Rowing Championships gold medals...
- Former British Rower. Winner of 5 Olympic gold medals - Andy ScottAndy Scott (English footballer)Andrew "Andy" Scott is an English former professional footballer whose clubs included Sheffield United, Brentford, Oxford United and Leyton Orient. He is currently manager of League Two team Rotherham United, after being sacked from Brentford in February 2011. During his playing career, Scott was...
- Former professional footballer. Manager of Brentford FC - Roger Taylor MBE - Former British Tennis Player
- Professor Gaetano Thien - Professor of Cardiology
- Gregor Townsend MBEGregor TownsendGregor Peter John Townsend MBE is a former Scottish rugby union player who played at fly-half, full back and latterly centre....
- Former Scotland Rugby Union International - Professor G Michael Vincent - Founder of SADS Foundation, USA
- David WalliamsDavid WalliamsDavid Edward Walliams is an English comedian, writer and actor, known for his partnership with Matt Lucas on the TV sketch show Little Britain and its predecessor Rock Profile...
- Comedy actor and TV personality - Ray Wilkins MBERay WilkinsRaymond Colin Wilkins MBE , often known as "Butch" Wilkins, is an English former footballer and at present a television pundit...
- Former England International footballer - Sir Clive Woodward OBEClive WoodwardSir Clive Ronald Woodward OBE is an English former rugby union player and coach. He was coach of the team from 1997 to 2004, managing them to victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He is currently the British Olympic Association's Director of Elite Performance.-Early life:Woodward was born in Ely...
- World Cup winning England Rugby Union Coach. Director of Elite Performance for the BOA