Rory McIlroy's little known battle with serious heart condition
The golfing star has suffered with the condition since the age of 20
Rory McIlroy is one of the most celebrated sports stars in the world, especially after his historic triumph at the 2025 Masters in Augusta.
However, the Holywood golfer suffers from a serious health condition, one that can be extremely dangerous if not managed correctly, that many people are unaware of.
The 35-year-old previously revealed he has been suffering from myocarditis since the age of 20. In 2018, he revealed he suffered a heart scare following a 'bad viral infection' in China 18 months earlier, according to RSVP Live.
Revealing that has to get an ECG and MRI scan every six months to monitor the condition and suffered a minor heart scare the previous year, McIlroy told The Telegraph: "I've got a bit of an irregularity with my heart that I have to keep on top of. I have a flat T-wave and I'll have to get an electrocardiogram (ECG) on my heart every six months and an MRI scan every year.
"I suffered a really bad viral infection in China 18 months ago and they told me that's the reason that I have this thickening of my left ventricle and there's a bit of scar tissue. For now, I just need to stay on top of it and have to stay fit. Hey, I was planning on doing that anyway."
Myocarditis usually occurs following a virus. It is caused by the body's immune system overreacting to an infection, causing inflammation, which can stay in the heart even after the virus has been cleared.
While some sufferers have no symptoms, for others, it can cause chest pains, palpitations and shortness of breath. But in rare cases, if the inflammation is severe, myocarditis can scar the heart muscle.
This can affect the electrical activity of the heart as well as how well blood is pumped around the body, potentially triggering a heart attack or stroke.
And speaking on the condition earlier this year, Rory told the WHOOP podcast he is continuously monitoring his health to ensure he remains well.
He said: "I have myocarditis, and I've had it since I was 20-years-old. I wear WHOOP and monitor my heart rate variability and heart rate and obviously coming down the line, some other things that can help me.
"With myocarditis if you're not hydrated enough or not getting enough magnesium your heart can have little arrhythmias that can be worrisome. To be able to keep on top of that just gives me massive peace of mind."
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