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Key Points
- The article discusses various health problems that U.S. Presidents have faced, emphasizing that everyone, regardless of their status, can experience health issues.
- Several U.S. Presidents, including Ronald Reagan, Grover Cleveland, Herbert Hoover, Ulysses Grant, and William Clinton, have battled with different types of cancer during their presidencies.
- Franklin Roosevelt, who contracted polio and became paralyzed, managed to serve four terms as President, leading to the 22nd Amendment that limits presidential terms to two.
- The article reveals that 11 out of 43 U.S. Presidents have suffered from strokes, with Woodrow Wilson, Dwight Eisenhower, and Franklin Roosevelt experiencing them while in office.
- Other health problems faced by U.S. Presidents include heart attacks, as experienced by Warren Harding and Dwight Eisenhower, and autoimmune diseases, such as Graves' disease, which was diagnosed in George H. W. Bush.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a waitress or the President of the United States, everyone has health problems. Some are easily handled by heading to urgent care, while others are more serious, like these health problems that U.S. Presidents have faced.
Cancer
While in office, Ronald Reagan dealt with a few health problems. In 1985, cancerous polyps were found and removed from his colon, causing him to relinquish presidential power to his Vice President for a total of eight hours while he was incapacitated. Later that year, he had surgery to remove cancerous skin cells from his nose.
He wasn’t the only one U.S. President to deal with cancer. Other presidents include Grover Cleveland, who had jaw cancer; Herbert Hoover, who had intestinal cancer; Ulysses Grant, who had throat cancer; and William Clinton, who had basal cell carcinoma.
Polio
After contracting polio in 1921, Franklin Roosevelt became paralyzed from the waist down. Despite using iron leg braces, walking with a cane, and using a wheelchair while in private, he convinced others that he was getting better.
After he was elected in 1932, his disability was considered taboo and was never mentioned in the press or in political cartoons all while the Secret Service prevented photographers from taking pictures of him in a wheelchair. Despite this and other health problems, President Roosevelt was the only president to be elected to four terms, which led to the 22nd Amendment barring anyone from serving more than two terms as President.
Strokes
According to an article published in 2006, 11 of the 43 United States Presidents have suffered from strokes. Of those, three suffered strokes while in office: Presidents Wilson, Eisenhower, and Franklin Roosevelt. In 1919, Woodrow Wilson had a series of strokes that left him paralyzed on one side. His wife tried to cover up the seriousness of his condition, and it wasn’t fully revealed until five months later.
On April 12, 1945, Franklin D. Roosevelt declared, “I have a terrific pain in the back of my head” and slumped forward unconscious. He was diagnosed as having had a stroke (a massive cerebral hemorrhage) and died that day at 3:35 p.m.
Heart Attacks
Warren Harding’s health had started declining in the fall of 1922. Dr. Emmanuel Libman had suggested to President Harding that he might be dealing with coronary disease after having dinner with him. While traveling around the country in August 1923, Harding died in California, many believing the cause to be a heart attack.
President Eisenhower dealt with quite a few health problems while in office. In 1955 while on a vacation to Colorado, he suffered a heart attack and was in the hospital for six weeks. This led to a ventricular aneurysm in his heart, which then led to a stroke in 1957.
Autoimmune Diseases
President George H. W. Bush was diagnosed with Graves’ disease during his presidency. It is an autoimmune disease that causes the thyroid to enlarge and produce excessive amounts of thyroid hormones. President Bush got immediate care through an oral dose of radioactive iodine to kill the thyroid.
If you’re worried about any of these health issues, consult your primary care physician. If it’s something that can't wait, walk-in clinics and urgent care centers are available without appointments.
Frequently asked questions
Which U.S. Presidents have faced serious health issues while in office?
Several U.S. Presidents have faced serious health issues while in office. These include Ronald Reagan, who had cancerous polyps removed from his colon and skin cancer cells removed from his nose; Grover Cleveland, who had jaw cancer; Herbert Hoover, who had intestinal cancer; Ulysses Grant, who had throat cancer; William Clinton, who had basal cell carcinoma; Franklin Roosevelt, who contracted polio; Woodrow Wilson, who suffered a series of strokes; Warren Harding, who likely had coronary disease and died from a heart attack; and George H. W. Bush, who was diagnosed with Graves’ disease.How did President Reagan's health issues affect his presidency?
In 1985, President Reagan had to relinquish presidential power to his Vice President for a total of eight hours while he was incapacitated due to the removal of cancerous polyps from his colon. Later that year, he underwent surgery to remove cancerous skin cells from his nose.What health problem did Franklin Roosevelt face and how did it impact his presidency?
Franklin Roosevelt contracted polio in 1921, which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Despite his disability, he was elected President in 1932 and served four terms, making him the only President to do so.How many U.S. Presidents have suffered from strokes?
According to a 2006 article, 11 of the 43 United States Presidents have suffered from strokes. Of those, three suffered strokes while in office: Presidents Wilson, Eisenhower, and Franklin Roosevelt.What health issues did President Eisenhower face while in office?
President Eisenhower dealt with several health problems while in office. In 1955, he suffered a heart attack while on vacation, which led to a ventricular aneurysm in his heart. This, in turn, led to a stroke in 1957.What autoimmune disease did President George H. W. Bush have?
President George H. W. Bush was diagnosed with Graves’ disease during his presidency. This autoimmune disease causes the thyroid to enlarge and produce excessive amounts of thyroid hormones.What should I do if I'm worried about any of these health issues?
If you're worried about any of these health issues, you should consult your primary care physician. If it's something that can't wait, walk-in clinics and urgent care centers are available without appointments.Did any U.S. Presidents die while in office due to health problems?
Yes, several U.S. Presidents have died while in office due to health problems. For example, Warren Harding is believed to have died from a heart attack in 1923. Franklin D. Roosevelt also died while in office in 1945 after suffering a massive cerebral hemorrhage, also known as a stroke.
