HealthFirst-Sudden death

UNDATED (WJRT) (WJRT) -- (09/26/07)-- They call it "sudden death" -- a seemingly healthy person drops dead with no warning. Their heart stops and never starts back up.

HealthFirst reporter Leslie LoBue says there is a new way for this genetic condition.

Brandon Bascom has a lot to live for. He's a new father, and will soon fulfill his dream of being a college music professor.

"I started playing piano when I was three years old, so I've been playing ever since."

But Bascom doesn't take each day for granted. He needs a defibrillator to keep his heart beating. His father has one too and so does his cousin. 

His aunt dropped dead from an undetected heart problem.

The common thread? Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy or HCM. It causes the heart muscle to thicken and can be seen during some procedures as a black bulge instead of the thin line it should be.

"There's no sense in being afraid, because what can you do? Bascom asked.

There is now something that can be done. Even though you can't change your genes, researchers have developed a way to test for the problem. Instead of waiting until symptoms appear as a teenager or adult, doctors can do the simple blood test on children.

"One of our hopes with genetic testing is that we can intervene early by using medicines that make it easier on the heart to work," said Dr. Mark Russell.

Bascom tested positive for the genetic mutation. "It was nice knowing, rather than not knowing," he said.

Even though there's a 50-percent chance he passed it on to his son, at least there will be an answers early on. That could help find treatment to keep his heart pounding.

Bascom says he'll probably wait until his son is a bit older before testing him. It's a simple blood test, but costs around $250 if there is a family link already established.

The cost is between $4,000 and $5,000 if there isn't.

Insurance sometimes covers the test.

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