Julie Bowen, best known for her role as Claire Dunphy on Modern Family, recently opened up about her heart condition that led her to get a pacemaker at just 29 years old. The 55-year-old actress shared her health journey on Michael Rosenbaum’s Inside of You podcast, detailing how her athletic background initially masked a serious heart issue.

What happened to Julie Bowen?

Modern Family star Julie Bowen suffers from sick sinus syndrome, a heart rhythm disorder linked to hypervagotonia. It is an overactive vagus nerve that caused her resting heart rate to drop dangerously low. While a normal resting heart rate for women ranges between 60-100 beats per minute, Bowen’s was in the 30s, a condition she initially attributed to her competitive running.

The diagnosis came unexpectedly during a family vacation when her sister, Dr. Annie Luetkemeyer, then a medical student, insisted on listening to her heart with a stethoscope. “She listened to my heart and said, “She was like, ‘That is not what they’ve been telling you, and it’s not runner’s heart or whatever. That means you need to go to a cardiologist.”

Although Modern Family actress initially delayed seeking medical help, a frightening realization came after filming the pilot for Ed in 2000. Bowen experienced symptoms of lightheadedness and “passing out” while simply relaxing. “They said, ‘You’re going to be driving a car and you’re going to pass out and you’re going to kill somebody,’” she said. “And I was like, ‘Oh, well then give me the goddamn pacemaker.’”

At the time, Bowen was terrified. “I was like, ‘Oh my God. My life is over. This is so weird. I’m gonna die.’” But in hindsight, the procedure, done through her armpit to avoid visible scarring, saved her from frequent fainting spells. Over the years, she’s had the pacemaker’s batteries replaced three times, but now barely notices it.