Arnold Schwarzenegger opens up on his secret health battle as he admits he ... trends now
Arnold Schwarzenegger has opened up about his secret health battle, following his announcement that he had a pacemaker fitted last Monday.
The actor, 76, underwent the procedure after previously having three open heart surgeries, explaining that he had an irregular heartbeat for a few years.
He admitted that despite his famous athleticism, the condition had 'worn him out' and that he had 'struggled' at the Arnold Sports Festival earlier this month.
The former politician created the annual multi-sports event in 1989, with mayor of Worthington, Ohio, Jim Lorimer.
The festival consists of professional bodybuilding, strongman, fitness, figure and bikini weekend expo, with events taking place in both the US and UK.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has opened up about his secret health battle, following his announcement that he had a pacemaker fitted last Monday, admitting he struggled to get through 16-hour days at the Arnold Sports Festival earlier this month (pictured at the event)
The actor, 76, underwent the procedure last Monday after previously having three open heart surgeries, explaining that he had an irregular heartbeat for a few years (pictured after surgery in 2020)
He admitted that despite his famous athleticism, the condition had 'worn him out' and that he had 'struggled' at the Arnold Sports Festival earlier this month (pictured)
Arnold explained that the long days he spends at the festival, going to all the sports and meeting the fans made him realise it was time for him to get the pacemaker fitted.
He first underwent elective heart surgery in 1997 to replace a defective, congenital aortic heart valve.
He also had his aortic valve replaced in Cleveland, Ohio in 2020, to go with his new pulmonary valve that he had inserted in April 2018 in Los Angeles.
Speaking on his podcast Arnold's Pump Club on Monday, Arnold said: 'Last Monday, I had surgery to become a little bit more of a machine: I got a pacemaker.'
He explained: '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.
'It had been like that for a few years, so I stayed in touch with my medical team and visited in person at least once a year to get a full check-up and see how my heart was doing.
'My doctors told me it was more important than ever to stay on top of the situation, and I checked in all of the time, sharing heart rate information from home.
'We knew the heartbeat was irregular, and my fantastic team watched it like a hawk. They told me they would let me know when it was time for a pacemaker.
The former politician created the annual multi-sports event in 1989, with mayor of Worthington, Ohio , Jim Lorimer
Arnold explained that the long days he spends at the festival, going to all the sports and meeting the fans made him realise it was time for him to get the pacemaker fitted
'I went in for my normal checkup at the beginning of March on my way to the Arnold Sports Festival, and they did a full series of tests. When I got home to LA, like it was fate, I was talking to one of my best friends.
'They told me that they had a pacemaker implanted, it was a quick recovery, and their energy levels were back to what they were used to.'
The former professional bodybuilder then admitted: 'That’s one thing you learn about an irregular heartbeat: all that extra work your
