Olympic Swimmer Dana Vollmer’s Heart Condition
Three years ago, swimmer Dana Vollmer was diagnosed with Long QT syndrome, a disorder of the heart’s electrical rhythm, but that didn’t stop her from winning a gold medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics.
In the spring of 2003, Vollmer’s heart began to race. Soon after, dizzy spells began.
Her parents, Les and Cathy Vollmer, initially thought it was something simple. Maybe her blood sugar was too low. Maybe she wasn’t getting enough rest.
They wanted to be sure.
Tests showed Vollmer had an extra electrical pathway in her heart, which required a minor procedure to remedy. Yet in treating one problem, another was discovered.
Doctors detected a Long QT pattern, meaning Vollmer’s heartbeats are sometimes too far apart. They suspected she might suffer from Long QT syndrome, a disorder that can cause an irregular heartbeat or no heartbeat at all.
Doctors cautioned Dana against swimming but said if she insisted, she should always have a portable defibrillator ready. Tests earlier this month, though, seem to have reversed the previous heart diagnosis. Hope this means Dana will be able to achieve her goal of winning medals at five Olympics!
San Jose Mercury News, October 27, 2006
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