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Anthony Bates Foundation

Anthony Bates BLOG

Reconnecting to Save Lives!

9/25/2018

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​This past weekend we hosted a heart screening event with our friends over at Chandler MMA. On average we try to have 2-3 screenings per month, but this one was extra special because it all happened by chance encounter.
 
It’s not unusual for us to repeat screenings at local schools and doctors’ offices, but this was actually our second screening event with Master Paul McGowan of Chandler MMA. We did our first screening with Master McGowan at the Polar Ice Complex back in 2007. We had a turnout of 139 people and found nearly 10% of participants had some sort of abnormality that needed further review from a cardiologist. Overall it was a fantastic event, and Master McGowan was amazingly supportive of our mission. Sadly, we lost touch with him over the years.
 
Fast forward to Summer 2018: We’re gearing up for a full season of heart screenings and determined to get more people to attend. We’ve made community outreach a huge priority in an effort to share our story and screen more hearts. By chance, Chandler MMA just happened to show up on our list of outreach for the day and we were so glad it did! Master McGowan responded to us enthusiastically and immediately wanted to host another event of his own. Master McGowan is an incredibly athletic guy, and he values his health. He’s continued to praise and support our mission, calling it an essential tool for peace of mind for any athlete or child. He’s undoubtedly passed this sentiment onto his students too.
 
Of course, we were happy to host another screening with Master McGowan. All totaled we screened over 50 hearts, and while we are still waiting on those results, we couldn’t be more satisfied with the outcome.  We recruited volunteers from his employees, student body, even his family and put them to work at our blood pressure table, ECG/EKG stations and data entry. This event could not have been what it was without Master McGowan, his dojo, and the great community surrounding us.
 
Community has been and will continue to be the main driver of our success. There’s nothing we like to hear more than our friends and donors sharing our message among communities of their own. That’s how we find people like Master McGowan, who so strongly support our mission that they become evangelists themselves. If you’re reading this, we encourage you to think of friends, families and colleagues that could be in need of our services. The good news is, if you have a heart, you’re qualified to get screened! And there’s no cost too great for peace of mind.
 
Be sure to check out our upcoming screenings on the events page! 


Don’t see one that works for you? Give us a call! 
Never had a screening? Give us a call! 
Haven't had a screening in the last 2 years? Give us a call! 
Want to make a difference? Give us a call!
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Can the new Apple Watch save your life?

9/19/2018

3 Comments

 
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Apple just announced its newest addition to the Apple Watch family: the Series 4. While it boasts a lot of new features like, like enhanced work out detection and larger screen, but can you guess what we’re most excited about? The new Apple Watch can take ECG readings and mail them directly to your doctor. Later iterations will even provide notifications for irregular heart rhythms. But is this enough to help in the fight against sudden cardiac arrest?
 
The ECG was invented in the late 1800s. It’s the machine that displays the squiggly lines, and always flatlines in TV dramas. It is used to detect abnormal heart rhythms and diagnose electrical conditions and heart attacks. It is also a good indicator for certain structural conditions. It is a very useful piece of equipment, but not all ECGs are created equal.
 
Most ECGs found in a doctor’s office or hospitals have 12 leads and allow you to conduct a reading at multiple points throughout the body. The Apple Watch is a one lead ECG so it monitors the heart rhythm from one spot on the body. This technology shows lots of promise, but it does not collect enough detail to diagnose heart conditions . . . yet.
 
Why does this matter? Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death of adults in the United States. It is the #1 cause of death of student athletes and takes the lives of thousands of children every year. Eighteen years ago, my son, Anthony, became one of those statistics. The Anthony Bates Foundation was created to raise awareness about heart disease and sudden cardiac arrest in children as well as create a heart screening program accessible to students and families. Let me offer this real-life scenario to illustrate my point.
 
Sam is thirteen. He complains that his heart races. It is hard to know what this really means because Sam is the only one who feels his symptoms. Does Sam consume too much caffeine? Is he an anxious kid? Does he have a heart condition?
 
Sam comes to one of our screening days in the fall 2014. After getting an ECG (12 lead), he is diagnosed with Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome - an electrical condition the can often lead to sudden cardia arrest. It is possible that the new Apple Watch would have recorded his racing heart. This would’ve provided his parents and doctor with clues about his complaints. It could have led to further testing, the 12 lead ECG, to diagnose his condition. In other words, the watch could have taken the ambiguity out of Sam’s description.
 
Following his diagnosis, Sam underwent a medical procedure called an ablation (right after my son’s 14th AngelDay. Coincidence?). Now, Sam is completely healthy and doing well in high school and in the band.
 
We should celebrate this new advancement for what it is. It brings affordable medical technology into our homes. It empowers consumers with valuable information. It raises awareness about heart health. It will give our children insight into how hard their heart works every day. It will help them understand how their heart behaves in certain situations. There’s no doubt that this will lead to a better quality of life.
 
In the meantime, get your child’s heart screened. Check Out our heart screening calendar on AZ & KS. And our friends at Simon's Heart have a national list, too! Check Out their list! A heart screening could save a child's life. Like Sam & many others!

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Thank you for visiting our website. If you have questions about our services please feel free to contact us either online or on the phone. We are based in Phoenix, AZ. Copyright 2022, Anthony Bates Foundation. All Rights Reserved. 
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