Bears DE Gains Adams dies - appears to be natural causes

[nunusguy]

Chicago Bears defensive end Gaines Adams died Sunday morning after he was taken to a Greenwood, S.C., emergency room, the county coroner said.

Greenwood County Coroner James T. Coursey told ESPN that Adams was taken to the emergency room at Self Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9 a.m. ET Sunday morning.

Coursey said the preliminary autopsy performed Sunday indicated Adams died of cardiac arrest caused by an enlarged heart.

Adams, 26, listed at 6-foot-5 and 256 pounds, played in college at Clemson and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft. He was traded to the Bears in October.

"I remember him at the 2007 Draft as a fine young man," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "Our condolences to Gaines' family, his teammates on the Bears and Buccaneers, and their organizations on their loss."

In 47 games over three seasons with the Bucs and Bears, Adams had 67 tackles, including 13.5 sacks.
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nf...ory?id=4833908

[NickO]

Very sad news. I thought this sort of stuff could be identified during a physical at the combine, per the quick article below.

http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/02/23/doct...ects-physical/

Raises an interesting ethical question. An enlarged heart, as far as I know, wouldn't be classified as life-threatening if discovered in a physical. But it's one thing for a borderline TE prospect to give up football in light of the news, quite another for a top 4 DE.

I guess the point's moot since the heart attack didn't occur while playing football.

[dadmg]

After years of being a pro wrestling fan and a research paper in high school, whenever I see "enlarged heart" and heart attack for a professional athlete I can't help but think HGH was likely the real cause. I can name at least five professional wrestlers that died of heart attacks before 50 with enlarged hearts, which HGH can cause. Regardless, a sad story.

[Nconroe]

Here is an article on more normal symptoms and treatments for enlarged heart with athletes and in general. Something to be aware of.

http://www.teenhealthfx.com/answers/Health/20572.html

And condolences to the Gaines Adams family and friends.