Muhammad Ali stable after he ‘stopped breathing’

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali is in stable condition after being taken to the hospital over the weekend. The 72-year-old reportedly stopped breathing last Friday and was revived by paramedics called to the scene.

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“[Family members] called 911. He was revived by the paramedics and is in ICU with fluid on the lungs. He is on a respirator and IV’s,” a source told media outlets. Ali’s spokesperson, Bob Gunnell, was less dramatic about the event, telling People in a phone interview that, “He (Muhammad Ali) went into the hospital this morning. He has a mild case of pneumonia and the prognosis is good.”

Though intense exercise and a clean diet kept Ali a formidable athlete in his prime and a healthy aging adult, pneumonia is a common affliction for people over the age of 65. According to the American Lung Association (ALA), pneumonia can be viral or bacterial, but older adults are at an increased risk because of weakened immune systems as a result of the aging process.

“Pneumonia tends to be more serious for infants and young children, older adults (people 65 years or older), people who have other chronic health problems, and people who have weak immune systems as a result of diseases or other factors,” states the ALA. “With treatment, most patients will improve within two weeks. Elderly or debilitated patients may need longer treatment.”

It is unconfirmed whether Muhammad Ali’s additional health issues may complicate or contribute to his pneumonia, but his representative indicates there is no cause for concern. Though the Ali family has requested any more details on the scare be kept private, Muhammad Ali’s daughter, Laila Ali, Tweeted that her father is doing well.

“Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers for my father,” she said on social media. “He is doing well~Y’all know he is a fighter! WE APPRECIATE ALL THE LOVE!”

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Ali has been living with Parkinson’s disease since 1984, a neurological condition doctors feel may be the result of repeated head injuries. Modern medications have made it possible for the boxing champion to live a normal lifespan; however, as of 2009, Ali was no longer able to speak in public. Parkinson’s disease is known to exacerbate other illnesses, and WebMD indicates pneumonia can be a complication of the disease.

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