Random U.S. President and Medical Problem They've Ever Had (44 items)

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  (#34) John F. Kennedy

  • Dec. at 46 (1917-1963)

  The Short List: Scarlet fever, measles, whooping cough, jaundice, chicken pox, bronchitis, respiratory infections, tonsillitis, sports injuries, poor vision, colitis, bad back, Addison’s disease, STDs, UTIs, fevers, prostate problems, high cholesterol, bullet wounds

  The health of President John F. Kennedy has long been the subject of speculation. He had scarlet fever, measles, whooping cough, and jaundice as a child, as well as chicken pox, bronchitis, and recurring respiratory infections. He had his tonsils removed and needed stitches several times for injuries sustained while playing sports with his brother. He wore glasses from a very young age and was diagnosed with colitis in 1934. He continued to experience intestinal problems throughout his life. While serving in World War Two, Kennedy contracted a coral cut infection from a wound he got while swimming. He may have had malaria, as well. He had a bad back and wore a brace to stabilize his torso.  Kennedy was diagnosed as anemic in 1955, and there were conflicting diagnoses of hypothyroidism as early as 1947. That same year, he was diagnosed with Addison’s disease, which affected hormonal production in his adrenal glands, and given less than a year to live. He continued to suffer from the effects of Addison’s and hide them during his political campaigns and terms in office. He also experienced abscesses, UTIs, fevers, high cholesterol, and prostate problems. His drug regimen included testosterone, steroids, medications for constipation and diarrhea, sleeping aids, and pain killers. With his numerous sexual encounters, there is speculation about whether or not he had any sexually transmitted diseases because he often complained of painful urination and ejaculation. Kennedy was shot twice in Dallas in November, 1963. One bullet went through his back and exited his throat, while the other went into his head. President Kennedy died as a result of his wounds.
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  (#42) George W. Bush

  • 72

  The Short List: Tonsillitis, appendicitis, skin lesions, back problems, fillings, hemorrhoids, substance abuse, colon polyps, various injuries, coronary artery disease

  George (Walker) Bush had his tonsils out at age five, his appendix at age 10, and a fatty cyst removed from his chest in 1960. He has had two back surgeries and numerous fillings in his teeth, and he suffered from hemorrhoids while serving in the National Guard. His alcohol and cocaine abuse both stopped before he took office as president. He had polyps removed from his colon in 1998 and 1999. While president, Bush had non-cancerous and pre-cancerous lesions removed from his face multiple times. Bush passed out and injured his head in 2002, perhaps from choking on a pretzel, tore his meniscus in 2004, and had scrapes and bruises from when he fell off his bike in 2004 and 2005. Bush had an artery stent put in after a 2013 examination revealed an arterial blockage.
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  (#30) Herbert Hoover

  • Dec. at 90 (1874-1964)

  The Short List: Croup, measles, mumps, diphtheria, earaches, chicken pox, gall bladder issues, shingles, cancer, pneumonia

  As a baby, Herbert Hoover almost died of croup, and, during his childhood, he had measles, mumps, diphtheria, earaches, and chicken pox. During his time as president, he shook so many hands that his hands became swollen, but he was generally healthy. Later in life, he had a gall bladder attack, shingles, abdominal discomfort, and he was diagnosed with intestinal cancer at the age of 88. He had the tumor removed but remained frail. He had lost his hearing and most of his sight by 1963. In 1964, he died of gastrointestinal bleeding, complicated by pneumonia, at the age of 90.  
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  (#40) George H. W. Bush

  • 94

  The Short List: Staph infection, heartburn, bleeding ulcers, head wound, arthritis, various injuries, Grave’s Disease, atrial fibrillation, hyperthyroidism, pre-cancerous cells, Vascular Parkinson’s Disease, pneumonia

  George (Herbert Walker) Bush almost died of a staph infection as a teenager and suffered from heartburn and bleeding ulcers from his 30s onward. While serving as a pilot in World War Two, he received a head wound after ejecting from a plane. While he was president, Bush had glaucoma, arthritis, a cyst on his hand, and a sty in his eye. In 1991, he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and hyperthyroidism, which was followed by a diagnosis of Grave’s disease. He had a small goiter on his thyroid, and his condition was treated with medication. He famously threw up on the Prime Minister of Japan in 1992, which may or may not have been related to his other health conditions. He stopped taking sleeping medication during the same year and had non-cancerous cells removed from his face, although pre-cancerous lesions were removed in 2002. Bush has used a wheelchair since 2012 as a result of a form of Parkinson’s Disease. In 2015, Bush severely injured his neck and had numerous hospitalizations for breathing problems and pneumonia in 2017.
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  (#10) John Tyler

  • Dec. at 72 (1790-1862)

  The Short List: Partial paralysis, dysentery, respiratory infections, arthritis, kidney pain, stroke

  John Tyler, a slight man, suffered from partial paralysis at the age of 30, which may have been caused by a tick bite or some sort of food-borne bacteria. Tyler experienced dysentery, frequent colds, kidney pain, arthritis, and general aches during his post-presidency years. He also fathered at least 15 children. He was dizzy, nauseous, and short of breath before suffering what is believed to have been a stroke in 1862.
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  (#19) Rutherford B. Hayes

  • Dec. at 71 (1822-1893)

  The Short List: Bullet wounds, war injuries, heart attack

  Rutherford B. Hayes was described as a “delicate” child and experienced numerous injuries during the Civil War, including a wounded knee and ankle, as well as three separate bullet wounds. On the occasion of the last wound, it was rumored that he had died. As president, Hayes banned alcohol and all other substances from the White House. He is only known to have suffered from one bout of poison ivy while in office. Hayes died of a heart attack in 1893.

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