Arnold Schwarzenegger is a legendary figure whose achievements span bodybuilding, acting, and global fame. With multiple Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia titles, he became an icon both on the stage and on the silver screen, famously starring as the Terminator.
The former California governor revealed in his Arnold’s Pump Club podcast that he had a pacemaker fitted, following three previous open-heart surgeries.
“Last Monday, I had surgery to become a little bit more of a machine. I got a pacemaker,” he told listeners on the episode released in March. “I have to tell you, just saying this to all of you goes against so much of my upbringing in Austria, where nobody ever talked about medical issues.”
He continued, “Everything related to health care was kept to yourself. But I’ve gotten so many messages and emails from people who were born with a bicuspid aortic valve, like me, telling me that talking about my valve replacement surgeries has given them courage and hope to deal with their own.
“So, since I know that going against my secretive instinct and being transparent helps people, what choice do I have?” he added.
Schwarzenegger has been dealing with heart issues for years. He had undergone his first open-heart surgery in 1997 to replace a defective aortic valve. The surgery was a success.
The famous action star had his second surgery in 2018. It was expected to be a less invasive procedure, but complications occurred that required an emergency open-heart surgery. This took place just before filming Terminator: Dark Fate.
In 2020, he had another valve replacement procedure.
Addressing his latest surgery, Schwarzenegger explained that doctors recommended the pacemaker to address scar tissue-related irregularities in his heartbeat.
“They also advised me that it was time to go through with this because some scar tissue from my previous surgery had made my heartbeat irregular,” he recounted and emphasized the importance of following medical advice and staying vigilant about health, especially when dealing with genetic conditions.
The actor’s openness about his heart issues has been praised for breaking down stigma and motivating others to address their health proactively.
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