Arnold Schwarzenegger, the renowned Hollywood actor and former governor of California, recently shared that he underwent pacemaker surgery. He made the announcement humorously on his podcast, Arnold’s Pump Club, jokingly referring to himself as “a little bit more of a machine” after the surgery, which took place “last Monday.”
Schwarzenegger, who is 76 years old, has a history of heart conditions, including three open-heart surgeries. His first two surgeries in 1997 were to replace his pulmonic and aortic valves. Contrary to expectations, these valves lasted 21 years before requiring replacement in 2018 and 2020. His third surgery in 2018 was complicated by severe internal bleeding due to an accidental puncture in the heart wall.
“I had surgery for a pacemaker, and became a little bit more of a machine.”
Despite these setbacks, Schwarzenegger remains optimistic and committed to recovery. He assured fans of his well-being, mentioning that he attended a significant environmental event just days after the surgery.
Schwarzenegger expressed gratitude to the medical team at the Cleveland Clinic for their excellent care during his surgery. He credited their expertise and care for making the procedure as painless as possible. The surgery was recommended due to irregular heartbeats caused by scar tissue from previous surgeries.
Additionally, Schwarzenegger revealed his family’s history of heart conditions, with his mother and grandmother’s bicuspid aortic valves leading to their premature deaths. He emphasized the importance of medical advancements and proactive healthcare in ensuring his survival, stating that he remains vigilant about staying in touch with his doctors and following their advice.
