After years heart complications, Arnold Schwarzenegger underwent surgery to receive a pacemaker. The 76-year-old actor explained his decision to undergo the medical procedure in a recent newsletter, updating readers on his speedy recovery process and revisiting the timing of his previous open-heart surgeries.
“Last Monday, I had surgery to become a bit more of a machine: I got a pacemaker,” Schwarzenegger wrote. The procedure was completed at the Cleveland Clinic, which “made the surgery as painless as possible,” he explained. The actor added that he's already back on his feet and “doing great,” adding that by the end of the week, he was attending an event organized by environmental advocates in Los Angeles with Jane Fonda.
Schwarzenegger last had heart surgery in 2020, when he underwent open-heart surgery to replace one of his bicuspid valves. He initially tried to replace the valve in 2018 through a non-invasive procedure, but due to a “minor breakdown at the hospital”, only one was replaced through an unexpected open-heart procedure. He first replaced both valves in 1997. Replacements last, on average, about 12 to 15 years, although he had 21 years since his first set.
“With all these surgeries, my doctors told me it was more important than ever to stay on top of things, and I checked in all the time, sharing heart rate information from home. We knew the heartbeat was irregular and my imaginary team was watching it like a hawk,” Schwarzenegger continued. “They told me they would let me know when it was time for a pacemaker.”
The irregular heartbeat was attributed to scar tissue from previous surgeries. The actor added: “This is life with a genetic heart problem. But you won't hear me complain. My mother and her mother's bicuspids killed them. I'm still here because of medical innovation and the diligence of staying in touch with my doctors and listening to them.”
Normally, Schwarzenegger explained, he avoided sharing extensive details about his health with such a wide audience. “I have to tell you, and just saying this to all of you goes against my upbringing in Austria, where nobody – ever – talked about medical issues. Everything related to healthcare kept to yourself,” he shared. “But I've received so many messages and emails from people who were born with a bicuspid aortic valve, like me, who tell me that talking about their valve replacement surgeries has given them courage and hope to face theirs.”
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