Osmond reveals undetected birth defect

Jimmy Osmond has revealed that he had no idea he had a hole in his heart until he suffered a stroke at the age of 40.

The youngest of The Osmonds, who is currently appearing as the Teen Angel in the West End version of Grease, said that he was overcome with a blinding headache five years ago as he was recording his TV show Jimmy Osmond's American Jukebox.

The 45-year-old told the Mail On Sunday that doctors decided to examine his heart after diagnosing the stroke.

"I'd been feeling pretty exhausted and assumed the stroke had been something to do with that," he said. "Yet I had never had high blood pressure, high cholesterol or any other problems that could have given any clues as to why I would have a stroke. The doctors decided to take a look at my heart."

A scan revealed a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) - a hole in the wall separating the upper chambers of the heart. It was a birth defect that had never been discovered.

Osmond has since vowed to enjoy life in moderation, exercise more and look after his health. "I am getting things under control. I think that I have finally realised that I can have it all - just not all at once," he said.