In a recent episode of his podcast, “Arnold’s Pump Club,” Arnold Schwarzenegger jumped into a deeply personal topic: his health journey.
Moving beyond the usual discussions of fitness and bodybuilding, the 76-year-old actor, bodybuilder, and former governor of California opted for a candid conversation about a recent surgery.
“Last Monday, I had surgery to become a little bit more of a machine: I got a pacemaker,” Mr. Schwarzenegger revealed, injecting a touch of humor with the statement, referencing his iconic “Terminator” role. “I want to thank my whole team at the Cleveland Clinic. All of the doctors and nurses took amazing care of me and made the surgery as painless as possible.”
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Mr. Schwarzenegger has been open in discussing his long history of heart issues, stemming from a genetic condition that necessitated valve replacements in 1997, 2018, and 2020. Mr. Schwarzenegger disclosed that both he and his mother and grandmother had issues with their aortic valve.
The aortic valve serves as one of the heart’s four valves regulating blood flow. Positioned between the left ventricle of the heart and the body’s primary artery, the aorta, it facilitates the separation of these crucial cardiovascular chambers. According to the Mayo Clinic, when the heart contracts, the aortic valve opens, allowing blood to move from the left ventricle into the aorta. Conversely, when the heart relaxes, the aortic valve closes to prevent blood from flowing backward.
A compromised aortic valve, whether due to disease or damage, can impede blood flow, placing additional strain on the heart as it endeavors to pump blood throughout the body.
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