Saving lives.
One heart at a time.

AugustHeart is San Antonio’s free heart screening program offered to area teens in an effort to reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death in youth.

All About AugustHeart

San Antonio Teens Screened Since 2011

Potential Lives Saved

Screened in 2023

Why screen?

Monitoring the heart health of teenagers in our community provides us with a great opportunity to save lives. Testing students as they enter high school is important.

The heart is physically immature under the age of 14.

High school athletes are pushed to a much higher level of exertion, putting more stress on the heart.

Underlying heart abnormalities go undetected without the presence of symptoms.

A physical exam is not enough – active teenagers appear healthy so reported symptoms may be overlooked by physicians.

How we screen.

During each screening, we perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) on every student and, if necessary, an echocardiogram (ECHO).

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) records the electrical signal from your heart to check for different heart conditions. Electrodes are placed on your chest to record your heart’s electrical signals, which cause your heart to beat. The signals are shown as waves on an attached computer monitor or printer.

Echocardiogram (ECHO)

An echocardiogram (echo) is a graphic outline of the heart’s movement. During an echo test, ultrasound (high-frequency sound waves) from a hand-held wand placed on your chest provides pictures of the heart’s valves and chambers and helps the sonographer evaluate the pumping action of the heart.

Learn More

"Respect and appreciation"

Thanks to AugustHeart, we have one less thing to worry about. We had the opportunity to add AugustHeart screenings to our spring physicals this year. As an Athletic Director, I felt like this seemed excessive. However, I learned firsthand that heart screenings save lives – my own daughter’s life! Hannah’s electrocardiogram was abnormal, and after speaking to the staff at AugustHeart, I realized it was serious and if not treated she could die suddenly, that was scary! AugustHeart helped get Hannah an appointment for a full evaluation with a pediatric cardiologist. She had a non-invasive surgery to take care of her condition and was back to sports when school started. I have a new respect and appreciation for the free heart screenings offered by AugustHeart to all our student athletes.

–Peter Wagner –

"Life saving."

We love AugustHeart! My son was screened 2 years ago, and the screening showed a concern that we had no idea about until then. He ended up having surgery, which was likely life saving since his issue could have resulted in sudden death. Screen your kiddos even if you think they have no issues!

– Karen Smith –

"Thank God for AugustHeart!"

I thank God for your Screening. You saved my son’s life! Patrick was diagnosed with Wolff Parkinson White the day before football practice. We got to see a Cardiologist and had a catheter ablation done that cured him. Thank God for AugustHeart!

– John Garcia –

"I was diagnosed with severe aortic valve regurgitation."

I didn’t know I had anything wrong with my heart. Halfway through cross country season I felt dizzy during a race but dismissed it as dehydration or fatigue from intense training. It happened the next week, but this time I fainted. One electrocardiogram and echocardiogram later, I was diagnosed with severe aortic valve regurgitation, and scheduled for surgery. I was back to sports in only a few months. Thankfully, I had warning signs. My mom helped introduce AugustHeart to the Lytle community, and in May 2016, 120 Lytle High School students received free heart screenings from AugustHeart. We both volunteer and support AugustHeart efforts to screen as many teens as possible.

–Will Cogburn –

"Grateful and blessed"

As a parent of two highly competitive, elite teenage athletes, I value any screening that can aid in predicting a condition that could end life prematurely. Many of us as parents of athletes encourage our children to compete at a higher level without a second thought of sudden cardiac death. I am grateful and blessed to be personally involved in saving lives of youth that may not survive high school if not for AugustHeart.

–Derrick Eaton –

"One test can save your entire family."

Jonathan is the first diagnosed case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) from an AugustHeart screening. HCM is a rare condition, however, it occurred ironically between two families, who are friends, and live just a few miles from one another. What are the chances? And the story continues… I, too, have recently been diagnosed with a mild case of HCM. Without Jonathan’s diagnosis, I would not have been tested, and may have inadvertently put myself at risk. AugustHeart screened Jonathan and indirectly screened me. It’s simple parents, Screen Your Teen! One easy test can save your entire family, in more ways than one!

–Diane Gottsman –

"Very well organized!"

Thanks, AugustHeart! The whole thing was painless for parents! Easy parking. We were in and out in under 30 minutes! Very well organized! Awesome staff! And not a single complaint from the teenage boys that got screened. That says a lot! And thanks for recommending this very important screening!

–Beth Brann-Garcia –

Saving lives.One heart at a time.