Ortiz's heart condition likely not serious

BOSTON, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz's irregular heartbeat is unlikely to keep him out of the game for too long, a doctor said.

Dr. Paul Thompson, chief of cardiology at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Conn., said irregular heartbeats generally are not considered serious ailments in people with otherwise healthy hearts, but the doctor, who is not involved in Ortiz's care, said it was too early to say for sure whether the player's condition is dangerous, the Boston Herald reported Wednesday.

"The approach to dealing with David Ortiz is to find out what the rhythm is and find out if there's any associated problems in the heart," said Thompson. "If the person has a good heart, you usually don't worry about it that much."

Ortiz was expected to see a team of doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital after he initially complained of an irregular heartbeat during an Aug. 18 game.

Thompson said the doctors likely would observe Ortiz's heartbeat for 24 hours before deciding on a treatment.