Schwarzenegger undergoes heart surgery

Web posted April 17, 1997

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger had elective heart surgery Wednesday to replace a heart valve, his spokeswoman said.

Schwarzenegger, 49, was expected to make a full recovery, said spokeswoman Catherine Olim. She would not identify the hospital.

Schwarzenegger opted to have the operation to replace an aortic valve even though it was not causing him any problems, Olim said.

``I've never felt sick or had any symptoms at all, but I knew I'd have to take care of this condition sooner or later,'' Schwarzenegger said in a statement. ``I said to the doctors, `Let's do it now, while I'm young and healthy.' They agreed this was the way to go.''

Schwarzenegger plans to rest until the end of May when he will begin promoting ``Batman and Robin'' in which he played the villainous ``Mr. Freeze.''