Muhammad Ali, inspirational boxing legend, died Friday at age 74. He had been hospitalized for roughly a week and died in the hospital from septic shock, multiple sources reported.
According to NBC News, Mr. Ali, who was born Cassius Clay in January 1942, was hospitalized in fair condition, but things quickly became more serious, due in part to his age and his Parkinson's diagnosis, a disease he had battled for 32 years.
Sepsis is the body's life-threatening response to an infection, according to the CDC, and when severe sepsis is coupled with low blood pressure, it is called septic shock.
Elderly people, people with a weakened immune system and people with chronic illnesses — like Parkinson's — have a higher risk of developing sepsis. Sepsis is the ninth leading cause of disease-related deaths in the U.S., killing more than 258,000 Americans annually.
Parkinson's has no cure, but some medications and treatments can provide relief from symptoms, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. It is a chronic and progressive disease, meaning symptoms grow worse over time.
According to CNN, Mr. Ali was hospitalized at HonorHealth Scottsdale (Ariz.) Osborn Medical Center. A family spokesperson told NBC News that Mr. Ali "did not suffer."