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.'
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'This approach, coupled with consistent exercise, promotes sustained fat loss. Research confirms that combining diet and exercise is the best strategy.' A study published in the International Journal of Obesity found that people who exercised and dieted at the same time lost 20 per cent more fat compared to those who dieted alone. 'Remember: you won't lose love handles just by working the muscles,' Monty says. 'You have to create a calorie deficit through diet, too. 'There's no shortcut around it - eat fewer calories than you burn, and you'll start seeing your waist tighten up and your clothes start fitting better.'
The Independent
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How a handful of almonds could improve your health
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