5 famous people to have had a pacemaker fitted
There are a variety of reasons that a person would need a pacemaker. One of the main reasons is when they have an arrhythmia. This is when the heart’s rhythm is abnormal. There are a few reasons that this can occur.
• Heart muscle damage as a result of a heart attack
• Medications that can affect your heart rate
• Genetic conditions
• Normal aging of the heart
What is a Pacemaker?
A pacemaker is a device the size of a half dollar. It is implanted under the skin, near the heart, and is designed to control your heartbeat. The procedure to implant a pacemaker is considered a minor surgery. A pacemaker can improve your quality of life, however, certain precautions would need to be taken. Having a pacemaker implanted is referred to as “cardiac resynchronization therapy.” There are over 3 million people in the world with pacemakers, and 600,000 pacemakers are implanted each year.
Famous People With Pacemakers
Heart conditions do not discriminate. While there are millions of everyday people with heart problems, there are also famous people who have pacemakers as well. The following list names 5 famous people to have had a pacemaker fitted.
Sir Elton John: In 1999, Sir Elton was on a jet taking him to sing at the wedding of David Beckham and Posh Spicee in Dublin, he collapsed. After seeing a doctor, tests revealed that he was suffering from an irregular heartbeat. After the emergency was over, Sir Elton was on the tennis court, when his partner came out and informed him that doctors did not think he should be playing tennis or any other sport. After hearing this news, he flew to London from the South of France to have a pacemaker fitted. The operation took place at a hospital in St. John’s Wood, London, and took only about an hour and a half, and he was back in France within 36 hours. Today, Sir Elton says his pacemaker does not affect him at all. The only change that he has needed to make, is to carry an ID card when traveling, so that airport security will understand why he is setting off the metal detectors.
Ted Williams: Former Boston Red Sox phenomenon, Ted Williams had a pacemaker implanted in November of 2000. Williams was suffering from congestive heart failure, due to a rapid heartbeat. He was hospitalised for several weeks before having a single chamber pacemaker implanted, designed to slow his heart down to the desired level.
Krusty the Clown: Krusty may only be a fictional character on the Simpsons, however, he is very well known, and he has a pacemaker. It is not wonder that Krusty has heart problems, he smokes, he drinks, and lives a very unhealthy lifestyle.
Stan Lee: The co-creator of X-Men, the Avengers, and Spider Man had a pacemaker implanted when he was 89 years old. When asked about his pacemaker, he joked saying that he had the electronic pacemaker implanted so that he could be more like is fellow Avenger, Tony Stark. He said that it would allow him to lead for another 90 years.
Mark Farner: Classic rocker, Mark Farner, of the classic rock group Grand Funk Railroad, has a pacemaker. After he had the pacemaker implanted, his wife stated that he had the wind knocked out of his sails only temporarily. She also said after a bit of rest and relaxation, that he would be back on stage by 2013, going stronger than ever.
If you are visiting London Cardiovascular Clinic for a pacemaker, keep in mind that you are in good company.
