health exam, and at the same time talk to a buddy that they played with back in the day and hang out,” Rogowski said.
The exams include basic tests, such as blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, and advanced diagnostics, such as a transthoracic electrocardiogram.
“We’re able to streamline what would normally take a few weeks, if not more, and thousands of dollars into an hour,” Rogowski said. Then, the retired players can consult with a cardiologist. “There’s no time limit on it – they can sit and talk about healthy lifestyle, some of the results, the next course of action.”
Rogowski said the tests have uncovered everything from undiagnosed high blood pressure and prediabetes to cases of an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation and blocked arteries in the neck, both of which can lead to a stroke. In a few cases, newly diagnosed conditions have led to heart transplants, including one that saved Hall of Famer Nate “Tiny” Archibald.
Catchings, who lives in Spring, Texas, attended a screening in Houston’s Toyota Center in 2016. Testing showed he needed to closely
