DENTON MP Andrew Gwynne has thrown his backing behind a campaign for a plan to prevent sudden cardiac death in young people.
New research has revealed 12 apparently fit and healthy young people aged 35 or under die suddenly from an undiagnosed heart defect.
Now the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) is running a campaign for a national strategy to deal with this issue.
Mr Gwynne has backed their call for a strategy to be put in place to prevent tragedies, not least through screening.
In 80 per cent of cases, there will have been no signs or symptoms until it is too late.
Now CRY believes testing is so vitally important and now screens about 30,000 young people each year and has done so to well over 190,000 since the screening programme was launched in 1995.
Mr Gwynne said: “I was very pleased to pledge my support to this important campaign.
“The sudden and unexpected deaths of so many young people is a real tragedy, causing unimaginable pain for their friends and families.
“A national strategy for young sudden cardiac death prevention could help save thousands of young lives and has my full support.”
Dr Steven Cox, Chief Executive of CRY, added: “We are continuing to urge all MPs to help establish a national strategy for the prevention of young sudden cardiac death to ensure the government acts to prevent the hundreds of deaths of young people each year from undiagnosed cardiac conditions.
“As a progressive society it cannot be acceptable that we fail to act in response to the horrendous impact these conditions have on the family, friends and fabric of our communities when left undiagnosed.”
Any person aged 14-35 can go online to www.testmyheart.org.uk to book an appointment for a free heart screening which includes an ECG.