DALLAS, March 30, 2018 — The American Heart Association is sending actor and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger best wishes, following media reports that he has undergone emergency open-heart surgery due to complications from another procedure.
Schwarzenegger, 70, who first grew to fame as a body builder, was reported have had a catheter valve replacement on Thursday.
Schwarzenegger has shared that he was born with a congenital heart defect, called a bicuspid aortic valve. In the late 1990s, sources indicate he had a valve transplant made from his own tissue, rather than a mechanical valve. In the past, he has also told fans and followers about his family history of heart ailments.
According to the American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, the goal of heart valve surgery is to cure the problem or lengthen life by restoring the function of the heart valves, whether they are diseased or damaged.
When possible, it’s generally best to repair a valve and preserve a person’s own tissue in the heart. However, when the tissue is too damaged, a replacement valve may be used from another human heart, an animal or a manufactured mechanical valve.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173
For Public Inquiries: 800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and strokeassociation.org
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