Elizabeth Taylor back in hospital due to heart condition

Elizabeth Taylor back in hospital due to heart condition

Elizabeth Taylor, the 78-year old iconic Hollywood actress, has been hospitalized again this week for "an ongoing condition" according to a statement from her publicist Sally Morrison.

Taylor had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure nearly seven years ago. The condition involves insufficient blood being pumped by a weak heart.

"Elizabeth Taylor was hospitalized earlier this week...suffering from symptoms caused by congestive heart failure, an ongoing condition," Morrison said. "This issue is being addressed...She is currently being kept in the hospital for monitoring."

The two-time Academy Award-winning actress also had a heart valve replacement surgery two years ago. Taylor won her first Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 1960 for "Butterfield 8". She won the same award six years later for the film "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf."

"Her family and close friends are appreciative of the warm support and interest of her loyal fans but have asked that people respect her privacy and allow her medical team the time and space to focus on restoring her back to health," the statement added.

During the past several years, Elizabeth Taylor has suffered a series of health setbacks including heart issues. She broke her back four times already and is suffering from chronic pain because of those injuries. Taylor had also underwent three hip-replacement procedures.

Skin cancer, a brain tumor and a bout with pneumonia also added to her health woes. During the 1980s, she went into drug and alcohol rehab.

Since her debut at the young age of 12 in the movie "National Velvet", Hollywood and the public has been captivated by the beauty, talent and glamor of Elizabeth Taylor.

Posted by Kade Quinn on Sunday February 13 2011, 1:18 AM EST. Ref: Reuters. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Entertainment, Featured News. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0