Arnold Schwarzenegger, the iconic actor and former bodybuilder, recently opened up about his health journey, revealing that he has undergone surgery to have a pacemaker implanted. In a candid conversation on his podcast, he shared insights about his recovery and the importance of addressing health challenges head-on. His willingness to discuss personal health struggles serves as an inspiration for many who might be facing similar issues.
During the March 2024 episode of “Arnold’s Pump Club,” Schwarzenegger expressed his gratitude towards his medical team and reassured fans that he is doing well. He emphasized that despite his surgery, he was back to attending events just days later, showcasing his resilience and determination. This personal connection with his audience highlights an important message: taking care of one's health is crucial, and doing so can empower others who may feel alone in their battles.
Schwarzenegger’s decision to share his experience is particularly significant given his large following. With over 750,000 subscribers, he recognizes the impact of his words and hopes to encourage others to seek help if they need it. By breaking the stigma surrounding health issues, he aims to foster a sense of community and support among listeners, reminding everyone that they are not alone in their struggles.
Arnold first revealed the news about his pacemaker during an episode of his “Arnold’s Pump Club” podcast in March 2024.
“First of all, I want you to know I’m doing great! I had my surgery on Monday, and by Friday, I was already at a big environmental event with my friend and fellow fitness crusader Jane Fonda,” he told listeners. “Nobody would ever have thought I started the week with a surgery.”
“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,” he continued.
Arnold decided to share details about his health battle with his fans to help support those who may be going through something similar.
“I could have kept it a secret. But I know that we have more than 750,000 subscribers now — the village is a city now — and a lot of you are probably dealing with your own health challenges,” the former professional bodybuilder said. “I want you to know you aren’t alone. And if you’re putting something off out of fear, I hope I inspire you to listen to your doctors and take care of yourself.”
The procedure to get the pacemaker is not the first surgery for the FUBAR star over the past few decades. He had open heart surgery twice in 1997 to replace his pulmonic valve and aortic valve. Arnold had surgery in 2018 and 2020 to get both valves replaced again. The last surgery caused him to have an irregular heartbeat.
“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,” he said. “That’s life with a genetic heart issue. But you won’t hear me complaining.”
Though he will be sidelined from doing “serious training in the gym” for a little while, Arnold assured fans that FUBAR season 2 is still happening.
“I can’t do my serious training in the gym for a while, but I will be 100 percent ready for FUBAR next month!” the dad of five explained.
Arnold's journey underscores the importance of health awareness and the need to seek medical advice when facing health challenges. His openness not only helps to demystify heart surgeries and pacemakers but also serves as a beacon of hope for many.
Photo Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic