When my son gets his sports physical for school, how thoroughly should I expect his heart to be examined?

The pre-participation physical (often referred to as the sports physical or camp physical) is meant to identify a number of potential early warning signs that an athlete may have a more significant underlying health concern. We screen for visual problems, kidney function and diabetes in addition to cardiovascular and pulmonary symptoms. The key components to this process are providing the physician with honest responses to a series of questions meant to screen for potential heart ailments, including chest pain or discomfort with exertion, fainting spells, excessive fatigue or shortness of breath with activity. The second component is the physical exam, which specifically looks at blood pressure, heart rate and assessment for heart murmurs or abnormal breath sounds. If the history or physical exam reveals any potential heart or lung issues, then additional testing is recommended. Additional testing may be required If there are other signs and symptoms suggesting a possible problezm such as diabetes or kidney disease.