Julie Bowen Opens Up About Lifesaving Pacemaker at 29
Cutting straight to the heart: Modern Family star Julie Bowen has quietly navigated life with a pacemaker since she was just 29 years old. In a candid conversation on the July 1 episode of the Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast, Bowen revealed that she was diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome—also known as hypervagotonia—which caused her resting heart rate to plummet dangerously low. She laughed as she admitted she often forgets the device is even inside her chest, but the decision to get one was nothing to take lightly.
Bowen explained that persistent vagal overactivity leads to sinus node dysfunction, a condition outlined by the National Library of Medicine that causes the heart’s natural pacemaker to misfire. On her sister’s urging—her sibling at the time was a medical student and happened to be carrying a stethoscope during a family vacation—Julie was told, “It’s not runner’s heart or whatever. You need to see a cardiologist.” Originally attributing her low pulse to her background as a competitive runner, she delayed the warning, only to end up filming the pilot of Ed when she finally sought medical attention.
She recalled the moment she was told she’d need a permanent device: “I was like, ‘Oh my god, my life is over. This is so weird, I’m going to die.’” Yet doctors assured her that the condition itself wouldn’t be fatal, though she had been fainting regularly. “Whenever I was relaxed—on the couch watching TV or a movie—I’d get this vague, lightheaded feeling, like I’d been holding my breath,” she said. Ultimately, the clinical team painted a stark scenario: driving a car with this disorder could result in passing out and harming others. “They said, ‘You’re going to pass out and you’re going to kill somebody. Give me the goddamn pacemaker,’” Bowen quipped.
For context, a healthy resting heart rate for women typically ranges between 60 and 100 beats per minute, according to the Mayo Clinic. Julie’s device now kicks in if her heart dips below 45 beats per minute, ensuring her safety during everyday activities. At 55, she credits advances in modern medicine and technology for allowing her to continue an active life and a thriving career in television.
Bowen’s forthright revelation joins a growing roster of celebrities speaking out about serious health challenges. From Brian Austin Green’s emergency appendix surgery to Adam Devine’s lingering pain after childhood injuries and Jason Tartick’s debilitating back injury, public figures are using their platforms to raise awareness and encourage early intervention. What’s next? We’ll be watching Julie Bowen’s upcoming projects and hoping her story inspires anyone who’s brushed off an odd symptom to seek medical advice—no matter how busy life gets.
And there you have it. Take it or leave it.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online, Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast, National Library of Medicine, Mayo Clinic
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
