Wes Leonard, a 16-year-old high-school junior, died of an enlarged heart shortly after scoring a game-winning basket. Dean Reynolds reports on a story of sudden victory and sudden loss.
A common cause of sudden death, particularly in sports people is the interventricular hypertrophia, in which the heart pumps less blood due to reduced ventricular cavities. If you add to that the fact that many sports people´s heart gets enlarged due to the excess pumping (after all it is a muscle, just like your biceps), then we see these young people dying during the match. There should be a compulsory Echo test of the heart in all sports. It could save many lives.
He won't have to face the problems life poses but then he won't get the chance to of enjoyed more of life and a family of his own. What a way to go though with a goal win. So much heart!
probably his heart was always enlarged, it dont just happen, they just probably never knew he had an abnormally large heart and it attacked him. R.I.P. man
I did not, nor do I desire to see any negative comments listed about this story. If there are any, shame on you. This is a very sad story, however, this young man died doing what he loved and that should be revered and chastened.
So sad to happen to a young person. God bless you and may the Lord strengthen all those that know and love you! Life seems so random at times but there's a purpose for our being.
You always sound brand new , his condition was undetected,he went through the usual mandatory heart and body check up.They don't scan your heart as if you were about to go through a life saving surgery. Heart conditions like these go unnoticed all the time. I know someone who died exactly like that . Sudden deaths are absolutely devastating.
@Pasguiroq Because they said nobody including the kid himself knew he had an enlarged heart. It's impossible to know about an abnormality inside your body unless a doctor brings it up to you. If he knew about it. I doubt he would have been playing basketball, or any sport for that matter. Why would the military accept people with heart failures? The whole point of war is to win not see how many people you can have die to shock the public.
Wait did I hear right? complications from the heart? again, why is a guy with not so healthy heart doing playing basketball?? wow this world surprise every day, but what most surprise me is that people dont see the logic or the consequences or every action taken Im surprised the Military dont accept people with heart failures, the deaths would multiply, and yet some people would be in shock...
@maskofmemories probably his heart was always enlarged, it dont just happen, they just probably never knew he had an abnormally large heart and it attacked him.
@maskofmemories it was like that, hear doesnt just... simply enlarge from anything I know of... He was probably born that way, but being so young and with no back records of heart problems (for being that young) he most likely never had his heart checked... I'm 21 and I never had mine checked, since i never had any problems in the past.... that doesn't mean I;m ok tho... This makes me want to go to get a full health check @_@
