Many remember 9-time Gold Medalist, Mark Spitz, as one of the greatest Olympic athletes of all time. Now Spitz has announced he's been diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) which affects more than 2.7 million Americans and is defined as a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, heart failure, and a five-fold increased risk for stroke.
Spitz wants to use his story to shed light onto the fact that this could happen to anyone, even an Olympic athlete. To increase awareness around the seriousness of AFib and heart health in general, Spitz has partnered with industry leader AliveCor, maker of KardiaMobile, the FDA-cleared personal electrocardiogram (ECG), to ensure people have access to an affordable, accurate ECG that can be used anytime, anywhere.
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Years after his record setting performances in the pool, Spitz has maintained a commitment to physical health throughout his life as a businessman, celebrity spokesperson, husband and father.
"When I was diagnosed with AFib, my first thought was, 'how could this happen to me?' The life I thought I had changed forever," said Spitz. "Together with AliveCor, our goal is to create a broader discussion around heart health and inform others of this device that gives me peace of mind despite my diagnosis."
AliveCor was named the #1 artificial intelligence company on Fast Company's Top 50 Most Innovative Companies and its FDA-cleared KardiaMobile product is the most clinically validated mobile ECG solution in the world. This device is not only for people suffering from AFib; it also detects fast and slow heart rates (Tachycardia, Bradycardia) and allows people to monitor for Normal heart rhythm.
Mark Spitz's diagnosis illustrates the widespread impact that heart health has across the United States. Mark is an exemplar of his generation and has maintained a healthy lifestyle beyond his Olympic years. As our population continues to age, he is a role model for confident and insightful health management," said Priya Abani, CEO of AliveCor.