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School Board concerned about sudden death of athletes
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A potentially deadly heart problem has the Warren County Board of Education considering mandatory cardiac exams for high school athletes.Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is a congenital heart disorder which affects almost 1 in 500 people. The condition has entered the public consciousness over the past couple of decades due to the sudden death of several high-profile professional and student athletes.The deaths of Gaines Adams, 26, of the Chicago Bears, and University of Southern Indiana athlete Jeron Lewis, 21, who collapsed during a game, have both been linked to HCM. HCM is a genetic disease which results in a thickening of the heart muscle. According to the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association website, the condition is the leading cause of sudden death in children and young adults.