Underlying causes

HERE are some congenital heart conditions that may cause young athletes to suffer from a sudden cardiac death.

When these conditions are aggravated by intense physical activity, they may cause ventricular fibrillation (VF), where there is uncoordinated contraction of the cardiac muscles, making them seem to quiver instead of contract.

This leads to sudden death if not treated immediately.

Long QT syndrome

This is basically when there is a disorder in the cardiac rhythm that can cause very quick or chaotic heartbeats. This is quite a rare inherited condition.

Steve Konowalchuk, an American professional ice hockey player, retired in 2011 after a regular heart screening detected Long QT syndrome.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia

ARVD is caused by genetic defects of parts of the heart muscles.

Several professional footballers have died from the condition – English player Matt Gadsby (age 27) collapsed on the pitch in 2006 and later died, American midfielder Kirk Urso (age 22) collapsed and died when out with friends in 2012, and Spanish international player Antonio Puerta died (aged 22) three days after suffering several cardiac arrests in 2007.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

This is basically where the muscles in the heart are thickened and the heart is bigger than normal.

It causes disruptions in the electrical functions of the heart. It is a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes.

Numerous professional athletes have died of this condition, the most famous of whom is perhaps Cameroon international footballer MarcVivien Foe who collapsed on the pitch in 2003 (aged 28) and died shortly afterwards.

Several professional athletes have retired after regular heart screenings diagnosed them with the condition: American former basketball player Robert O’Kelley, English footballer Mitchell Cole (who later died from the condition in 2012, aged 27) and most recently former Arsenal and Watford goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, who retired in August this year.