Songpa-gu Supports Free 'Echocardiogram Screening' for High School Students... Reservation System Established
Seoul Asan Hospital Cardiology Specialists Conduct Examinations and Provide Medical Referrals if Needed
Songpa-gu (District Mayor Seo Gang-seok) is collaborating with Seoul Asan Medical Center to provide free 'echocardiogram screenings' for high school students to enable early diagnosis of asymptomatic heart valve disease during adolescence.
According to Seoul Asan Medical Center, among heart diseases, the representative 'heart valve disease' often occurs in Korea not only due to congenital causes but also as a sequela of rheumatic fever following sore throat during elementary and middle school years. In particular, since the valve's repetitive operation leads to gradual functional deterioration over the long term, early detection through screening is very important for treatment.
However, current physical examinations for middle and high school students do not include related tests, making early diagnosis difficult.
In fact, Professor Song Jae-gwan of the Cardiology Department at Seoul Asan Medical Center emphasized the need for adolescent heart disease screening, stating, "Many students often complain of symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath due to excessive competition, and some are diagnosed with heart disease after suddenly visiting the emergency room."
Accordingly, the district has initiated free echocardiogram screenings to help detect heart valve disease early in adolescents and support their healthy growth through appropriate treatment.
The screening will be offered to approximately 13,600 high school students in the area who consent to participate. The district strongly recommends that high school students who have ever experienced chest pain, chest discomfort, or shortness of breath undergo the screening.
To facilitate the screening process for adolescents, the district has also established a dedicated reservation website. After making an individual reservation and visiting Seoul Asan Medical Center, specialized medical staff at the Heart Hospital will perform the echocardiogram and provide referral services if necessary.
Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, "Based on the results of this echocardiogram screening, we will work with Seoul Asan Medical Center to establish youth health policies," adding, "We will continue to provide customized healthcare services tailored to the life cycle of residents so that everyone can live a healthy and happy life without exclusion."
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