Athletes Under 25 At Greater Risk For Cardiac Arrest, Doctors Say

Athletes under the age of 25 who participate in basketball, soccer and football are more prone to sudden cardiac arrest, according to health professionals.

The warning from doctors comes as high school football and youth sports ramp up ahead of the fall season.

Dr. Charles Webb, a cardiologist, said the leading issue has to do with the heart itself.

In the United States and in Europe, the most common causes of cardiac arrest in athletes and anyone in general under the age of 25 is a congenital defect within the heart itself," Webb said.

Webb also said it's possible to screen for the defect with an EKG, but also stressed that sudden death among young athletes remains rare.