It’s a matter of the heart

Ben Steinberg was one of 37 eighth grade students at Long Beach Middle School who advantage of a free heart screening for students participating in district sports programs.

The purpose of the screening, held last Saturday at LBMS, is to identify cardiac abnormalities that can be detected by means of an echocardiogram.

“It was quick and painless,” Steinberg, who plays football, lacrosse and volleyball, said about the ultrasound exam.

This type of exam evaluates the size and function of the left pumping chamber of the heart and the size of the main artery of the body, as well as the function of its valve to identify abnormalities that may not be apparent from a customary preparticipation physical examination. Abnormal left ventricular size or abnormal aorta size or function may result in abnormalities of heart function when with these problems participates in competitive sports.

“It’s a wonderful program,” said Cliff Steinberg, Ben’s father, whose older son Mason took part in the program last year. “Other parents should really take advantage of it.”

The program is made possible through a cooperative arrangement with the Jason F. Gruen Research Foundation, which funds the initiative, and Schneider Children’s

Hospital.

The Long Beach School District is one of four school districts in Nassau County selected to participate in this program that was first introduced in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, has screened over 1,100 students, and has referred approximately one dozen students for further evaluations.

The program was introduced to LBMS through the efforts of Long Beach businessment Neil Sterrer and Joe Sinnona, directors of the Long Island Board of Realtors, as part of its “We’re More than Realtors” community outreach program. The program is in its second year at LBMS.

Dr. Fred Bierman, chairman of the department of pediatrics at Schneider Children’s Hospital, performed the screenings. Arnold Epstein, district director of athletics, physical education and health and Director of Pupil Personnel Services Dr. Mary Tatem facilitated the program with Barbara Young, the district’s nurse coordinator. School nurses Mary Beth Thurston, Lori Field and Liz Lebowitz assisted Young.