"Tim's case was about as severe as they come," says his doctor about this diagnosis that's been rising among younger crowds.
About the expert
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Highlights
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Heart disease isn’t only a later-in-life concern. A May 2025 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association showed heart disease rates are climbing among younger people, especially men. One factor driving this trend? Myocarditis—one of the leading causes of heart failure, including among young people—is also on the rise, the researchers say.
Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle, says Christopher Mahida, MD, a physician specializing in interventional cardiology at Mercy Health in Ohio. “It’s dangerous because it can weaken the heart, leading to heart failure,” Dr. Mahida says. This inflammation can reduce the heart’s pumping ability as well. “It may also cause abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), which can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.”
What causes myocarditis?
Quadruple board-certified Dr. Mahida says myocarditis often develops from a viral infection, autoimmune disease, or reaction to medications or toxins. But he also points to a link with COVID-19 in particular.
In fact, 2025 research in the World Journal of Cardiology shows COVID-19 increases myocarditis risk in young people more than other viral infections, even in otherwise healthy individuals. Men are also more at risk, Dr. Mahida adds. “The immune response in males tends to be more aggressive, which can cause more inflammation after infection,” he says. “Additionally, testosterone may promote inflammation, whereas estrogen is thought to be cardioprotective.”
Below, one patient explains how a mild case of COVID nearly resulted in the need for a heart transplant—and the one symptom of myocarditis he wishes everyone knew about.
How I knew I had myocarditis
As told by Tim Shuckman, 46, to Leslie Finlay, MPA
“In 2024, I was probably in the best shape of my life since college,” Tim says. “Then right around this time last year, I came down with COVID following a work trip. It really wasn’t bad, I felt like I had the flu for a few days—back up and running and working out within probably four days.”
“Then about two weeks after that, I had what I thought was a rebound of COVID.” Tim’s symptoms included fluid in his lungs, shortness of breath, lethargy, and swelling in his limbs. “I went back to the doctor and got diagnosed with pneumonia—well, what we thought was pneumonia.”
He continued his daily activities with modifications as needed, but one day, he hit a wall. “I actually ran three and a half miles that morning and was like, Something’s off. [Then] I was on a work Zoom call and I could barely speak.”
Discovering a major sign of heart failure
Tim says that later that night, “Anytime I would try to lie flat, after about an hour it was like, asthmatic—I couldn’t breathe at all and I’d kind of shoot up out of bed, I’d be hunched over and [trying to] catch my breath.”
“I come to find out that’s like the number one sign of heart failure: your lungs build up all this fluid in them and you can’t breathe,” he says. At this point, Tim headed straight to the hospital emergency department, arriving in such poor condition that he was flown to a specialized hospital.
Severe myocarditis diagnosis
“I don’t remember any of this, but Dr. Mahida was the physician who decided to immediately put in an Impella pump to help my heart … a call which, ultimately, I believe ended up saving my life.”
An Impella pump is a small mechanical device that temporarily helps the heart pump, allowing it to rest and recover. Coincidentally, the company where Tim serves as chief commercial officer was involved in this device’s clinical trials. “I was blown away by that,” he says. “Like, full circle, the work I do every day in some way actually helped save my own life.”
The pump is a short-term solution, however, and Dr. Mahida made the call to transfer Tim to a hospital with a transplant center. “Mild [myocarditis] cases often resolve on their own, and most patients may have minimal symptoms,” Dr. Mahida says. “Moderate cases may require brief hospitalizations, including management with medications.”
However, “In some cases, [myocarditis] progresses to dilated cardiomyopathy—a condition where the heart becomes enlarged and inefficient—and these cases may even require [a heart transplant],” he continues. “Tim’s case was about as severe as they come.”
“My heart was at less than 5% functionality”
After five days in a medically induced coma, Tim woke up. “My heart was at less than 5% functionality. [They told me], ‘You’re very sick. This is going to be a very significant change to your quality of life. We think you possibly could need a heart transplant, possibly a kidney transplant, because everything kind of failed after the heart failed.'”
“That’s a very freaky, powerful conversation,” Tim says. “In my mind, I was just like, Alright, let’s just push the pause button here for a minute.” His doctors decided on a dual pathway: preparing for a potential heart transplant while waiting to see if his heart would rebound.
For about a month, Tim’s heart and kidneys were supported by two Impella pumps, ECMO (a system that pumps oxygenated blood), and dialysis. His surgeon also acknowledged the extreme mental toll Tim was under, prescribing the antidepressant Zoloft for support.
“It was the worst thing I’ve ever had to endure mentally,” Tim says. “You’re dependent on everyone, from eating to going to the bathroom. Because of the ECMO tubes in my neck, I had to have help even sitting myself up because if they moved, they’re like, ‘You will probably bleed to death.'”
On top of all that, Tim faced the looming possibility a heart and kidney transplant. “The only saving grace I had was this happened in the fall, so football was on,” he jokes.
A remarkable recovery
Tim says the doctors started to see his heart respond. “That was extremely positive news. But they also cautioned me, saying, ‘We’re not sure if it’s your heart responding, or if it’s responding because it has assistance with the Impella pumps.'”
But as the pumps were removed, his heart continued to recover. Slowly but surely, his kidney function also returned. “When I finally left the hospital, my heart was at 55% [ejection fraction, a measure of how well the heart’s pumping ability works].” The normal range for a male is 55 to 70%. “[My doctors] were like, ‘We’ve really never seen anything like this.'”
Life after severe myocarditis
Tim lost around 45 pounds in the hospital. “Just like, completely emaciated within a month.” During his recovery, “I’d walk every day, as much as I could, 45 minutes of walking, and then I’d sleep for three hours after that. It was kind of just resting and allowing myself to heal and recover.” He also takes two medications prescribed for post-heart failure patients.
His body continued to heal, and check-ups proved promising, including “no scar tissue.” By June, he was scuba diving on vacation with his family.
Tim credits his lifestyle and mindset for this successful recovery. In particular, he prioritized an ‘I get to‘ mentality. For instance, before his illness, he was able to do 50 to 60 push-ups. Now he tells himself: “I get to do two push-ups, and tomorrow I’ll do three.”
This philosophy extends beyond physical recovery, too. “I get to sit in traffic to pick my kids up from school; I get to deal with clients who are upset at work. Just taking every day as a blessing and trying to be 1% better the next.”
While his doctors don’t anticipate long-term complications, Tim remains focused on a heart-healthy lifestyle. “I asked them about things like: I like bourbon, is that OK to have? And they said everything in moderation, and that’s no different than it’s always been for me. But I don’t need to go out and run marathons or triathlons or other things I used to do. I could if I wanted to, but it’s just like, do everything within moderation and enjoy the second lease on life, so to speak, that I have.”
What to do if you think you have myocarditis
“Number one: listen to your body,” Tim says. “I think, especially as a 40-something-year-old male, there’s a tendency to maybe try to tough things out.”
Dr. Mahida agrees. “Young patients are often the ones who potentially ignore symptoms, and by the time they present, [they] can really be in trouble,” he says. “Quick action is the key for patients with severe myocarditis response—early mechanical support doesn’t just save damage to the heart, but it can also save damage to other organs.”
After a cough, cold, fever, or other viral infection, Dr. Mahida says to seek immediate medical attention for possible myocarditis if you experience:
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Chest pain
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Fatigue
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Shortness of breath
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Swelling in the belly or legs
Alongside viral infections, risk factors include autoimmune diseases, being male, and certain medications or drugs.
Still, the link between COVID and myocarditis is particularly strong. “In the post-COVID era, we have definitely seen an uptick of cases,” Dr. Mahida says. “More viral infections with possible new viral strains could be increasing the amount of cases we are seeing.” This trend is amplified in the U.S., he explains, as doctors see an increasing amount of obesity, stress levels, stimulant usage, and lack of exercise—all major risk factors for heart disease.
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