Brad Pike has spent years training and guiding student-athletes, but a life-changing diagnosis put him in the position of needing help himself. Now, he’s using his experience to educate others about the importance of health beyond the game.
“I used to be an athlete. Now, I'm just trying to keep up,” said Pike, who has dedicated his career to Athletic Training and physical therapy.
During a routine walk to meet his supervisor, Pike noticed unusual shortness of breath.
“There weren’t any hills or anything, so I thought that was weird,” he recalled.
Multiple tests revealed a dangerous heart condition—atrial flutter, a rhythm disorder that can lead to heart failure if left untreated.
UC Health Cardiologist Dr. Richard Becker explained:
“It’s fairly common and related to atrial fibrillation, the most common irregular heart rhythm in adults in the United States.”
Doctors performed a procedure to correct the irregularity, but they also encouraged lifestyle changes.
“We know of medications that we can use, but we also recognize that there are non-medical ways to address it,” said Dr. Becker.
Pike credits changes in his diet for improving his heart health.
“I had too much dairy, too many inflammatory foods,” he said. Now, as Chief of Staff at UC Athletics, he shares his journey with student-athletes. “You can change your health by changing your diet—just that can make a huge difference in your life.”
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