The chances of a young athlete dying from a heart-related ailment while participating in sports are miniscule. When it does happen it is usually going to be from a pre-existing condition.

And while the incidence of cardiovascular illness or death in athletes competing in an athletic event is approximately five in 1 million, if one of those five is a loved one, it's traumatic when it happens and the great odds don't matter.

Unlike most other sports-related illnesses or injuries, there is little chance for prevention of heart problems once a person is participating. There is literally no guarantee that such catastrophic events...