Arnold Schwarzenegger recently made headlines not for his on-screen exploits or any other accolades, but for his recent health update. The Terminator revealed that he underwent surgery to receive a pacemaker, shedding light on his battle with a rare heart condition known as a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV).

Schwarzenegger revealed about his recent surgery in his newsletter, “Arnold’s Pump Club.” While opening up about the surgery, Arnie explained how he was breaking through cultural taboos about discussing medical issues, especially prevalent in Austria where he hails from. He believes his transparency is a beacon of courage and hope for others facing similar health challenges. That being said, let us delve into Arnie’s latest surgery and learn more about his rare heart condition.

Arnold Schwarzenegger shocks fans with his latest health update

According to Schwarzenegger, his latest surgery went smoothly. Irregular heartbeats caused by scar tissue from previous surgeries prompted his decision to undergo the procedure. Despite the genetic heart issue he inherited, Arnie remains positive, crediting medical advancements for his survival. He mentioned in his revelation that regular checkups and communication with his medical team played a crucial role in managing his condition.

However, after experiencing fatigue due to his irregular heartbeat, Schwarzenegger’s doctors recommended a pacemaker, which he received just six weeks before filming for FUBAR Season 2. Despite the surgery, Arnie resumed his daily life and even attended a couple of events regarding his environmental activism.

In the same newsletter edition, Arnie had also talked about his previous heart surgeries. Having undergone valve replacements in 1997 and 2018, he faced complications during the latter, leading to an unexpected open-heart surgery. Following the advice of his doctors, he opted for a non-invasive procedure in 2020, successfully replacing the second valve. But the question here is, what causes BAV, what are the symptoms, and how can it be prevented?

Cause, symptoms, and treatment for BAV

According to Penn Medicine, a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a heart condition where the valve controlling blood flow from the heart’s left chamber to the body’s main artery, the aorta, has two flaps instead of the usual three. Over time, this valve might start leaking or narrowing, causing problems.

You might not notice any symptoms at first, but as the valve gets older and develops issues like narrowing or leaking, you might feel chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, fainting, or have a heart murmur. BAV can lead to other complications like problems with the aorta (the main artery) or irregular heartbeats. It’s often linked with genetic disorders, and it’s possible to inherit it from family members.

Doctors usually diagnose BAV when you start showing symptoms. They use tests like echocardiograms, MRIs, or CT scans to check your heart. If individuals are diagnosed with BAV, they are advised to have regular check-ups. If the severity of the condition exceeds, doctors might suggest surgery to repair or replace the valve. About 80% of people with BAV end up needing this surgery.

There are different types of surgeries available, including traditional open-chest surgery or newer procedures like transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), which is less invasive.  Around 2% of people have BAV, and it’s more common among men. While there is no certainty on what causes it, it’s believed to be linked to genetic factors. In Schwarzenegger’s case, he might have inherited the condition from his mother. “My mother and her mother’s bicuspid valves killed them,” he had earlier revealed. However, Arnie has been vocal about the condition and talked about it earlier as well.

How Arnie found about his family’s history with heart problems

In 2016 Arnie was featured on In Depth with Graham Bensinger. When Graham asked him about the decision to undergo heart surgery after filming “True Lies,” Schwarzenegger shared his family’s past. He explained, “My mother had a heart problem, so I took her to UCLA one day. They told her that she has a valve problem… two of her valves didn’t really work well.” The Austrian Oak explained how his mother’s health scare led him to discover his own heart condition. During the checkup, she revealed the family’s history of bicuspid aortic valve issues.

He recounted his mother’s shocking revelation. “My mother had a valve problem, and she died at the age of 67,” his mother told the doctors. Arnie was shocked by this revelation, admitting, “which was the first time I kind of heard that.” Learning that his grandmother also had the same condition and passed away at 67 made him realize the hereditary nature of the problem. Schwarzenegger began getting routine heart checkups. After filming “True Lies” in 1994, doctors warned him about declining heart performance, prompting him to consider a valve replacement. He underwent the surgery after finishing work on “Batman & Robin” in 1997.

READ MORE: Arnold Schwarzenegger Was Born With a Serious Heart Illness That Caused His Mother’s Demise in 1998: “Obviously Something That’s Been Passed Down.”

Despite facing a serious health challenge, Arnie remained resolute. Schwarzenegger’s recent heart surgery and his continuous transparency about what he has gone through inspire hope, urging others to prioritize regular check-ups and proactive health management. Just like he chose to confront the family’s long-held secret head-on, putting an end to the cycle of heart problems that had claimed the lives of his grandmother and mother.

READ MORE: “Started Collecting Blood in Your Lungs”: Just After Making $25,000,000 From His Highest-Paying Movie, Arnold Schwarzenegger Nearly Died Due to a Failed Heart Surgery