Country singer Randy Travis was hospitalized in critical condition with a viral heart infection.
Travis was admitted to an unknown hospital Sunday in Dallas and was in critical condition Monday evening. He was being treated for viral cardiomyopathy, according to his publicist, Kirt Webster.
Viral cardiomyopathy is a disorder where a virus attacks the muscles of the heart, causing the heart to beat slower and making it harder for the heart to pump blood and carry it to the rest of the body. It can lead to heart failure. Treatments range from medications and surgically implanted devices to heart transplants.
"Viral cardiomyopathy can be caused by 30-plus different viruses, but it's almost impossible to pinpoint which virus it is," said Dr. Ramin Oskoui, a cardiologist and internal medicine specialist in Washington. "Hospitals use viral cardiomyopathy as a 'catch all' diagnosis."
Travis had recently been on the road, performing in Detroit on June 28 and Chicago on June 29. He was set to do a show in Deadwood, South Dakota, on Wednesday.
Randy Travis' sister-in-law Teresa Traywick released a statement about the singer's condition.
"We have been told he has had surgery. Our prayers are going out to him because my husband just had a heart attack last year, so it is in their family. Their mother passed away at an early age with her heart, so it is like these boys are following right in their footsteps. My prayers are with them. That's all I can say right now."
This condition came after the singer was trying to put his life back together following a series of embarrassing public incidents last year involving alcohol. Travis pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in January, following his arrest last year when he was found naked after crashing his car. He was sentenced to two years of probation, fined $2,000 and given a 180-day suspended jail sentence. He was required to spend at least 30 days at an alcohol treatment facility and complete 100 hours of community service.
"To say that Mr. Travis' alcohol use exacerbated his problems would be pure speculation, but if someone told me alcohol played a role in his cardiac problems, I wouldn't be surprised," Oskoui said.
Travis is one of country music's top-selling artists, and has won seven Grammys, 10 Academy of Country Music awards and 10 American Music Award statuettes.
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