Latest news with #AFib
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
ESPN's Mike Greenberg opens up about horrifying heart condition and the procedure he says changed his life
It wasn't just an irregular heartbeat bothering ESPN's Mike Greenburg when the married father of two was diagnosed with an atrial fibrillation (AFib) in 2015. As the long-time sports media personality told the New York Post, his condition led to severe anxiety, sleepless nights, and fear of another episode like the one that left him hospitalized that ultimately took its toll. 'I was in my mid-40s, I was just sitting on my couch and suddenly felt my heart racing up in the 160s or 170s,' the 57-year-old said. 'Imagine sprinting on a treadmill, that was my heart rate while sitting.' Greenberg knew about his condition before the episode, but admits that still didn't prepare him for what was to come over the ensuing years. 'At first, it was manageable with meds, I was on beta blockers and used a "pill-in-the-pocket" approach,' Greenberg said. 'It worked — until it didn't. 'The episodes became more frequent,' he continued. 'The meds didn't stop them anymore. I'd lay awake at night feeling my heart race, frustrated and scared.' Greenberg's workload wasn't helping. Typically waking up at 3am, Greenberg kept his condition a secret from coworkers while frequently logging seven days a week. 'The moment that pushed me to act was in summer 2022,' he said. 'My wife [Stacey] and I went to Burgundy, France — my favorite wine region. But I was afraid to enjoy it. I was sipping tiny amounts, scared of setting off an episode. That trip was one of many other moments that made me realize, I couldn't live like that.' By March of 2023, Greenberg got a second opinion from Dr. Jim Cheung, who suggested a minimally invasive catheter ablation procedure. Not only was this an outpatient procedure, allowing Greenberg to sleep in his own bed that night, but he was back at work within a week and hasn't suffered any subsequent symptoms. 'That second opinion changed my life,' Greenberg said. 'I met with Dr. Cheung, who said I was a good candidate. We scheduled the procedure around my ESPN schedule, right between NFL free agency and the NBA playoffs. 'I had the procedure on a Monday, slept in my own bed that night and was back to work the following Monday. Within three weeks, I was working out again. And since then — no episodes. It's been transformational. 'The device used in my procedure was manufactured by Johnson & Johnson MedTech, a global leader in cardiac arrhythmia treatment. Without this procedure, I couldn't have done it. The sleepless nights, the anxiety — I wouldn't have made it. 'I didn't have the "Sunday Countdown" job yet in spring 2023, but I do now. It's the highlight of my career, and I couldn't have taken it on without having that procedure.'
New York Post
13-06-2025
- Health
- New York Post
How ESPN's Mike Greenberg got his life back after scary health issue: ‘I couldn't live like that'
'The sleepless nights, the anxiety — I wouldn't have made it.' In an emotional interview with The Post, ESPN host Mike Greenberg recalled living in fear of his own body after being diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation, also known as AFib, the most common cardiac arrhythmia — or irregular heartbeat — in 2015. 'At first, it was manageable with meds, I was on beta blockers and used a 'pill-in-the-pocket' approach,' Greenberg, 57, said. 'It worked — until it didn't.' 7 Mike Greenberg before Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals between the Heat and the Nuggets on June 1, 2023 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NBAE via Getty Images The father of two was rushed to the hospital after his heart rate significantly spiked and he thought he was having a heart attack. 'I was in my mid-40s, I was just sitting on my couch and suddenly felt my heart racing up in the 160s or 170s,' he said. 'Imagine sprinting on a treadmill, that was my heart rate while sitting.' Greenberg, the host of 'Get Up' and 'Sunday NFL Countdown,' recalled years of going to bed scared because he was waiting for 'another episode' to occur. 'The episodes became more frequent,' he said. 'The meds didn't stop them anymore. I'd lay awake at night feeling my heart race, frustrated and scared. 'The moment that pushed me to act was in summer 2022. My wife [Stacey] and I went to Burgundy, France — my favorite wine region. But I was afraid to enjoy it. I was sipping tiny amounts, scared of setting off an episode. That trip was one of many other moments that made me realize, I couldn't live like that.' 7 Mike Greenberg at the 2025 Disney UpFront in New York on May 13, 2025. Gregory Pace/Shutterstock Greenberg was working seven days per week at ESPN and had a wake-up time of 3 a.m., while keeping his condition private at the time. There came a point where his condition worsened and it took a toll on every aspect of his life. In March 2023, Greenberg sought a second opinion and Dr. Jim Cheung recommended a catheter ablation procedure, which is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure to treat AFib. 7 (L-R) Stephen A. Smith, Mike Greenberg, Michael Wilbon, and Jalen Rose on. 'NBA Countdown' on ESPN during Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals on June 1, 2023 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NBAE via Getty Images He slept in his own bed the night of the procedure, was back at work within a week and has been symptom-free ever since. 'That second opinion changed my life,' Greenberg said. 'I met with Dr. Cheung, who said I was a good candidate. We scheduled the procedure around my ESPN schedule, right between NFL free agency and the NBA playoffs. 'I had the procedure on a Monday, slept in my own bed that night and was back to work the following Monday. Within three weeks, I was working out again. And since then — no episodes. It's been transformational. 7 ESPN's Mike Greenberg and wife Stacy on 'Good Morning America' on July 29, 2013. Disney General Entertainment Con 'The device used in my procedure was manufactured by Johnson & Johnson MedTech, a global leader in cardiac arrhythmia treatment. Without this procedure, I couldn't have done it. The sleepless nights, the anxiety — I wouldn't have made it. 'I didn't have the 'Sunday Countdown' job yet in spring 2023, but I do now. It's the highlight of my career, and I couldn't have taken it on without having that procedure.' Greenberg also mentioned reports about his procedure at the time incorrectly claimed he underwent open heart surgery — but not The Post, he said. 7 Mike Greenberg at a May 2025 event. Disney via Getty Images 'Once it was done and went well, I asked Stacey to post something [on social media] to let people know,' Greenberg said. '[The Post] picked up on it, wrote the story and next thing I knew, the sports world was praying for me … people reacted like I'd had open-heart surgery. And in reality, nothing could be further from the truth. 'When you go through a health situation, there's a part of it that feels private, but because of [The Post's] story and the reaction to it, I realized people don't really know what this is.' That lack of public awareness played a major role in why he partnered with Johnson & Johnson MedTech for an initiative called 'Get Smart About AFib' to educate patients about the signs, symptoms and treatment options available for AFib. 7 Mike Greenberg (left) and Mike Golik on ESPN radio Rich Arden 'I carry medication [now] just in case, and I know exactly what to do if I ever go into AFib again. But it hasn't happened once. That procedure gave me my life back. It was frightening,' Greenberg said. 'My message is simple: I'm not a doctor, but I can say this, if you have AFib, ask questions. If you're not satisfied with the answers, get a second opinion. Advocate for yourself. 'Now, it's like it never happened. I don't say that lightly, but I live as though it never happened.' 7 Mike Greenberg is one of ESPN's most visible stars. NBAE via Getty Images In his most frightening times living with AFib, Greenberg could only think about his wife, Stacey, and their chidlren, Stephen and Nicole. 'I've been doing [TV] for 30 years,' he said. 'People wake up with me on TV across the country. I'm grateful beyond words. But when I was faced with that situation, I thought far more about my kids than my job. I've raised two amazing people who are now adults and people I genuinely enjoy spending time with. 'Stevie's a senior in college, our daughter lives nearby. We spend a lot of time together. I look forward to being around for their next chapters, for grandchildren someday. Two years ago, I would've been afraid to celebrate with a glass of champagne. Now, I can.' Greenberg's schedule is the same still, but now he feels 'great.' 'I love doing 'Get Up,' the Sunday NFL shows, and 'The First Draft' podcast with [ESPN NFL draft experts] Mel [Kiper Jr.] and Field [Yates],' he said. 'I just hosted the [2025] NFL Draft, it was a blast. Greenberg's 29th anniversary at ESPN is approaching this August. 'I'll be 58,' he said. 'That means I've spent half my life at ESPN. Mind-boggling. 'But I'm grateful I have the job I dreamed about as a kid. I hope I never take it for granted.'
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pepin Heart Institute at AdventHealth Tampa becomes first in Tampa Bay to complete 1,000th WATCHMAN™ heart procedure
TAMPA, Fla., June 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The heart care experts at the Pepin Heart Institute, a part of AdventHealth Tampa, are now the first in the Tampa Bay area to complete 1,000 WATCHMAN ™ procedures, a minimally-invasive surgery that helps prevent stroke and cardiovascular death in patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) who are at increased risk. The WATCHMAN is a device about the size of a quarter. It's implanted via catheter through a vein in the upper leg and placed in the heart's left atrial appendage, where more than 90 percent of stroke-causing clots originate in patients with non-valvular AFib. Once in place, the device creates a long-term solution for stroke prevention. "Hitting this milestone, with the 1,000th WATCHMAN procedure recently completed by Dr. Paul Gerczuk, reflects our commitment to delivering leading-edge cardiovascular care using the most advanced techniques available," said Dr. Kenneth Yamamura, a board-certified electrophysiologist at the Pepin Heart Institute. "The WATCHMAN allows us to reduce our patients' stroke risk and help them come off blood thinners over time, significantly improving their quality of life." For Gregory Kingery of Sebring, the procedure was life changing. After being diagnosed with AFib, Kingery struggled to breathe and walk. Today, he credits the WATCHMAN with giving him his life back. "There's a lot of people who don't get a second lease on life," Kingery said. "I'm grateful I did." The Pepin Heart Institute at AdventHealth Tampa is a facility with a more than 35-year legacy of bringing innovative cardiovascular care to the Tampa Bay area. The Institute was born from personal experience: In 1986, when Tampa resident Art Pepin needed a heart transplant, his only option was more than 500 miles away. After surviving his transplant, he returned home determined to improve access to heart care in his own community. That mission lives on today with his son, Tom Pepin, and granddaughter, Tina, through the Pepin Family Foundation. Together, they carry forward a multigenerational commitment to advancing heart health and expanding access to life-saving treatment. "This procedure is more than a number—it's about lives transformed," Tom Pepin said at a June 4 event celebrating the milestone surgery. "Since becoming the first hospital in Tampa to offer this groundbreaking procedure in 2015, Pepin Heart Institute has been at the forefront of cardiovascular medicine. We're honored to help people in our community live longer, fuller lives." "We're proud to carry on that legacy and ensure world-class, compassionate support is available right here in Tampa Bay," Tina Pepin added. "It's a testament to the power of vision, innovation, and whole-person care." For more than 35 years, the Pepin Heart Institute, in partnership with the Dr. Kiran C. Patel Research Institute, has offered patients early access to breakthrough therapies and technologies in a state-of-the-art, three-story facility dedicated solely to heart care. Learn more at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE AdventHealth West Florida Division Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
AFib awareness: Stroke risks & advanced treatment options
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – May is National Stroke Awareness Month, a reminder to stay informed about symptoms and prevention. Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is a common heart rhythm disorder that is the leading cause of strokes. It creates an irregular heartbeat and increases the risk of blood clots forming in the heart. Those clots can break free, travel to the brain, and cause a stroke. The risk of getting AFib increases with age, but anyone could develop it. Those with AFib are five times more likely to have a stroke and can experience various symptoms. 'Atrial fibrillation can be anywhere from being asymptomatic, meaning having no symptoms at all, to being in the hospital because you feel like you're having a heart attack. Some of these patients describe atrial fibrillation as, 'the big one', where they're sweaty, they're clammy, their chest hurts,' Ascension Bay Medical Center Cardiac Electrophysiologist Dr. Saeed Khaja said. But there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. For example, smartwatches have sensors that monitor heart rate and can detect AFib. Early detection methods like this play a critical role in stroke prevention. 'The sooner you treat them, the more likely that you're going to keep it away and the less likely you're going to have a stroke,' Khaja said. Talk to your doctor for other early detection options. There's no cure for AFib, but there are advanced treatment options available, like pulsed field ablation. 'Pulse field, these electrical impulses that go to the heart that actually inactivate the part of the heart that causes AFib. And the best thing about it is that it does no damage to the tissue around,' Khaja said. 'Gone are the days when you just medicate and you wait till it gets bad. Now you can actually have a patient come to the lab. And I've had young people with their first or second incidence of atrial fibrillation coming to the lab and doing ablation, and now they're off of almost all medications and living a completely normal life, like it never happened.' Ascension Sacred Heart Bay has performed the procedure on 381 patients. For information on stroke warning signs or risk factors, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bayer Begins Phase I Study on BAY 3670549 in Atrial Fibrillation
Bayer AG BAYRY announced that it has initiated a phase I study, which is evaluating its investigational highly selective GIRK4 inhibitor, BAY 3670549, for the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib). The double-blind, placebo-controlled first-in-human dose escalation study will evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of BAY 3670549 in healthy participants. AFib is a common heart rhythm disorder that affects around 60 million people across the world. AFib is a notable risk factor for stroke and heart failure. Per management, the current standard for treating acute AFib episodes is electric cardioversion (ECV). However, the process remains challenging as it requires sedation or anesthesia to safely deliver an electrical shock to the patient's heart in order to restore its normal sinus rhythm. BAY 3670549 has the potential to help control the electrical activity of cardiomyocytes in patients with AFib. The successful development of BAY 3670549, should strengthen Bayer's cardiovascular portfolio. Year to date, shares of Bayer have rallied 36.7% against the industry's decline of 3.9%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Bayer is making good pipeline progress with some clinical milestones expected later in 2025. Bayer has also made some notable mergers and acquisitions to diversify and boost its portfolio of drug candidates. The company plans to launch new drugs — elinzanetant, a hormone-free treatment for menopause symptoms, and acoramidis, a drug for the treatment of a certain form of heart disease. In February 2025, acoramidis was granted regulatory approval in the EU under the brand name Beyonttra. Bayer had acquired marketing rights to the cardiovascular candidate acoramidis in Europe from BridgeBio BBIO. The rights were acquired from Eidos Therapeutics Inc., BridgeBio International GmbH and BridgeBio Europe B.V. Bayer has expanded its pipeline in new modalities to include competencies in cell therapy through the acquisition of BlueRock and in gene therapy through the acquisition of AskBio. Bayer, together with its subsidiaries, BlueRock and AskBio, is developing preclinical and clinical cell and gene therapies for treating various disorders, including congestive heart failure and Parkinson's disease, among others. Bayer currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Some other top-ranked stocks in the biotech sector are Halozyme Therapeutics HALO and Amarin Corporation AMRN, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. In the past 60 days, estimates for Halozyme's earnings per share have increased from $5.02 to $5.23 for 2025. During the same time, earnings per share estimates for 2026 have increased from $6.56 to $6.77. Year to date, shares of HALO have risen 11.8%. HALO's earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 17.60%. In the past 60 days, estimates for Amarin's loss per share have narrowed from $5.33 to $3.48 for 2025. During the same time, loss per share estimates for 2026 have narrowed from $4.13 to $2.67. Year to date, shares of AMRN have increased 14.5%. AMRN's earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters, met the same once and missed the same on the remaining occasion, the average surprise being 29.11%. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Bayer Aktiengesellschaft (BAYRY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (HALO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Amarin Corporation PLC (AMRN) : Free Stock Analysis Report BridgeBio Pharma, Inc. (BBIO) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
