Patient Stories

For many, a health crisis is a moment of fear. But for Brad Pike, it became something else—a moment of clarity, a turning point that revealed a path toward healing he never expected.

As the Chief of Staff for the University of Cincinnati’s Athletic Department, Brad is dedicated to helping others reach their full potential. He oversees the teams responsible for performance training, nutrition, sports medicine, and mental health, ensuring student-athletes have the resources they need to thrive.

But when his own health took a troubling turn, he found himself in unfamiliar territory—searching for answers and ultimately discovering a new path forward.

Recognizing Early Symptoms of Atrial Flutter & Microvascular Dysfunction

Brad had always considered himself healthy, believing he was doing everything right to keep up with his demanding career. His life had always been fast-paced—decades spent traveling with college sports teams, first as an athletic trainer at Syracuse for 23 years and now overseeing health and wellness for student-athletes at the University of Cincinnati. It was a schedule that never slowed down, and he thrived in it.

But then, in early 2023, the signs started to appear—small, subtle changes that, at first, were easy to brush off. Until they weren’t.

It started with shortness of breath. The stairs in his office building, which he had climbed effortlessly for years, became a challenge. He noticed lingering chest pain that wouldn’t go away. At first, he pushed through it. That’s what he’d always done. But as the symptoms worsened, he knew it was time to act.

What he discovered would change the course of his life.

Brad was diagnosed with atrial flutter, and microvascular dysfunction  —two conditions that explained why his body wasn’t keeping up the way it used to.

• Atrial flutter is an abnormal heart rhythm in which the heart’s upper chambers beat too quickly, reducing its ability to pump blood efficiently. This can lead to fatigue, dizziness, and breathlessness—symptoms Brad had started to notice creeping into his daily life.
• Microvascular dysfunction (MVD) affects the small blood vessels of the heart, making it harder for oxygen-rich blood to reach the heart muscle. Unlike traditional artery blockages, which are more visible in standard heart tests, microvascular dysfunction is subtle but can cause persistent chest pain, shortness of breath, and reduced stamina.

For Brad, this meant his heart was technically working—but not functioning the way it should. Everyday tasks were suddenly difficult. His body was sending warning signs that couldn’t be ignored.

Expert Cardiology Care & Catheter Ablation for Atrial Flutter

When Brad turned to UC Health’s expert cardiology team, they went straight to work. His care team, led by Richard Becker, MD, an expert cardiologist, and Wai Tam, DO , a dedicated physician specializing in cardiac arrhythmia, conducted a series of advanced tests, including:

• An echocardiogram to assess heart structure and function
• A cardiac MRI to get a highly detailed image of his heart muscle
• Vascular studies to evaluate how well blood was flowing through his smaller arteries

The tests confirmed the problem, and Dr. Tam recommended a catheter ablation, a common treatment for atrial flutter, designed to block the abnormal electrical signals disrupting Brad’s heart rhythm.

"After Brad and I collaboratively reviewed his diagnostic tests and discussed his medical history, we recognized that his atrial flutter was a significant contributor to his symptoms,” explained Dr. Tam. “Understanding the importance of shared decision-making in medical care, we explored various treatment options together. Prioritizing Brad's desire to resume his active lifestyle without concern, we jointly concluded that an atrial flutter ablation would offer the best opportunity to achieve this goal.”

From the moment he entered the room for the ablation procedure, Brad knew he was in the right place.

“The level of coordination was unmatched,” he recalled. “Everyone was locked in, focused, and knew exactly what they were doing. I’ve been in sports my whole life, and this was like watching an elite team working together. The precision, the communication, the efficiency—it was the best care I’ve ever received.”

The ablation went smoothly, and the results were almost immediate. For the first time in months, Brad could take a deep breath. His irregular rhythms were gone.

UC Health’s cardiology team had saved his life.

But Brad wasn’t done.

Addressing Microvascular Dysfunction: The Missing Piece in Heart Recovery

While the ablation had corrected his heart rhythm, something still wasn’t right.

The chest pain remained.

Dr. Becker explained that microvascular dysfunction was still a factor. Unlike major artery blockages that can be treated with stents or surgery, this condition requires different approaches like lifestyle changes and medications. Beta-blockers and a nitroglycerin patch were options—but for Brad, they came with unbearable side effects.

“The optimal treatment for MVD includes medications that improve the ability of the small blood vessels to open more normally in response to physical activity and other demands. In Brad’s case, a moderate dosage was initiated with a plan to add an angiotensin receptor blocker, or ARB, if needed. Based on my research, stress management was also planned as we have learned that a multidisciplinary approach is often most successful,” said
Dr. Becker.

“The beta blockers slowed me down—physically and mentally. The nitroglycerin patch gave me headaches so intense that I’d rather deal with the chest pain than take it,” Brad shared.

At many healthcare organizations, this might have been the end of the road—a patient managing symptoms and lifestyle adjustments, left to navigate the next steps alone. But UC Health is more than a hospital system—it’s an academic health system, offering multiple specialties to find solutions others might not consider.

Brad had already received life-saving cardiology care. Now, it was time to take his recovery even further.

Taking His Health to the Next Level with Integrative Cardiology & Lifestyle Medicine

Brad wanted to transform his health, not just manage his condition. That’s what led him to schedule a lifestyle medicine consultation with Dr. Mladen Golubic, Medical Director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health at UC. Lifestyle medicine is an evidence-based whole-person approach that combines modern medicine, like the ablation procedure in Brad’s case, with lifestyle changes, including nutrition, physical activity, yoga, sleep, stress management, and more.

During his consultation, Dr. Golubic introduced Brad to the powerful, proven connection between diet, stress, and heart health. He explained that chronic inflammation—fueled by poor diet, stress, and lack of restorative sleep—was a factor in microvascular dysfunction and could be contributing to Brad’s lingering chest pain.

The solution? A whole-food, plant-based diet, coupled with mindfulness practices and stress reduction techniques.

Brad was skeptical at first. He already considered himself a healthy eater and had been following a pescatarian diet. But after learning more about the impact of dairy, processed foods, and even certain types of oils on inflammation and heart function, he committed to making a change.

“Making significant lifestyle modifications, especially those that challenge our cultural norms and beliefs, requires a mindset open to experimentation, critical evaluation of results, and the willingness to adjust actions as needed,” Dr. Golubic said. “With his experience as an athlete and coach, Brad embraced this journey. Armed with a detailed self-care map and a gentle nudge, he ventured into uncharted territory and discovered that both food and meditation serve as powerful forms of medicine.”

With the guidance of Dr. Golubic, he transitioned to a fully plant-based diet. He focused on whole, unprocessed foods—fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains—and eliminated the animal products and processed foods that were fueling inflammation.

“I thought I was doing well before,” Brad admitted. “I had no idea how much my diet was holding me back. I was eating things I thought were healthy, but they were still keeping me from fully healing.”

But food wasn’t the only piece of the puzzle.

The Role of Mindfulness and Stress Management

Brad also began practicing mindfulness and breathing exercises, techniques proven to reduce stress-related inflammation and improve heart rate variability. Dr. Barbara Walker, Integrative Health and Performance Psychologist, taught him how chronic stress affects the cardiovascular system, increasing blood pressure and inflammation over time.

“We know that a consistent mindfulness meditation practice has been proven to reduce stress, enhance emotional regulation, and strengthen the mind-body connection,” Dr. Walker explained. “By promoting greater self-awareness and relaxation, it supports both mental and physical well-being, helping you feel more balanced and in control.”

Simple practices like deep breathing, meditation, and gratitude journaling could help regulate Brad’s body’s stress response and support his heart health.

“I had never really taken the time to think about how stress was impacting me,” Brad said. “I work in a fast-paced environment, and I’m always on the go. Learning how to slow down—even for a few minutes a day—made a huge difference.”

The Results

Within weeks, Brad started noticing changes:
His chest pain nearly disappeared.
His sleep improved, leaving him more rested and energized.
His mental clarity and focus skyrocketed.

Most importantly, he felt fully in control of his health for the first time.

“I used to think my heart health was just something that happened to me—linked to my genetics and out of my control,” Brad said.

“Now, I understand that I have the power to influence it every day.”

The Power of Combining Modern and Lifestyle Medicine

Brad’s story is proof that the best healthcare isn’t one-dimensional—it’s about blending medical expertise with personal empowerment.

• Expert cardiology care saved his life. Innovative procedures and personalized interventions stabilized his heart and eliminated immediate risks.
• Lifestyle medicine gave him his life back. By addressing the root causes of his symptoms—chronic inflammation, stress, and dietary habits—he found a way to truly thrive.

“My cardiology team at UC Health did everything they could clinically to stabilize my heart,” Brad said. “But it was up to me to take it to the next level. And with the help of integrative medicine, I did.”

How Lifestyle Choices Impact Heart Health

Brad’s experience proves that we all have the power to protect our hearts.

Research shows that heart disease isn’t just about genetics—it’s about the choices we make every day—and those choices can have a significant impact on heart health.

• Food as Medicine – A whole, plant-based diet can reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and lower heart disease risk.
• Movement Matters – Regular exercise strengthens the heart, regulates blood pressure, and improves cholesterol levels.
• The Power of Sleep – Quality sleep allows the body to repair itself, lowers stress hormones, and stabilizes heart rhythm.
• Managing Stress – Chronic stress fuels inflammation and high blood pressure. Mindfulness, deep breathing, and relaxation techniques help protect the heart.

For Brad, these changes made all the difference.

“Brad’s willingness to embrace change and stay open to growth has transformed his health in remarkable ways,” Dr. Walker enthusiastically said. “Progress like this is a testament to how powerful a coachable and open mindset can be for sustainable lifestyle changes.  I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him and am confident that he will make a positive impact on others.”

A New Kind of Future: One That’s Within Our Reach

Brad’s journey proves that the future of healthcare isn’t just about breakthrough procedures—it’s about combining the best of modern medicine with lifestyle medicine to create lasting change. Advanced medical interventions save lives, but true healing happens when patients are also given the tools to take control of their health. By blending cutting-edge cardiology care with lifestyle medicine strategies like nutrition, stress management, and movement, Brad didn’t just treat his condition—he transformed his health. His story is a testament to what’s possible when medical expertise and personal empowerment come together, redefining what healthcare can and should be.

At UC Health, patients don’t have to choose between modern medicine and whole-person care. They get the best of both.

Brad didn’t just survive—he thrived. Now, he’s leading by example, showing his student-athletes and colleagues that true health isn’t about “just getting by”—it’s about reimagining what’s possible.

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Lifestyle medicine consultations are for everyone—whether you're managing a chronic condition or simply striving for a healthier life. Take the next step toward better well-being by scheduling a consultation with one of our lifestyle medicine experts today. Call (513) 475-9567 to get started.

If you or a loved one needs expert cardiology care, don’t wait—your heart health matters. Our team of leading specialists is here to provide advanced treatments, personalized care, and the support you deserve. Take the first step toward a healthier heart today. Visit https://www.uchealth.com/heart/ now to learn more.