"He forgot the names of Cabinet officers, trusted aides and visiting dignitaries. In Brazil, he toasted the people of Bolivia." 1

Maladies and Conditions

This style... ... means the event occurred while President.



birth & childhood Reagan's birth was long and difficult (to a degree that his mother was advised not to have more children 1 .) He weighed 10 pounds at birth. In that era of high infant mortality, Reagan's father bragged about his fat little "Dutchman" and the name stuck 2a "Apparently, in spite of the rather stark poverty of his family, Reagan's childhood was almost free of illness" "Apparently, in spite of the rather stark poverty of his family, Reagan's childhood was almost free of illness" 2a



severely nearsighted He was so nearsighted that, as a college football player, his vision was limited to the square yard of turf occupied by the opposing team's guard. His vision disqualified him from serving in combat units in World War II 2b As a child, Reagan would have to sit in the front row in class to see, which embarassed him. In sports, Reagan sometimes got hit in the head with the ball he could not see. It was only at age 9 or 10 that a visiting nurse made the diagnosis. Reagan later said that when he got glasses, he was surprised to discover that trees had leaves and that butterflies existed -- neither of which he had ever been able to see As a child, Reagan would have to sit in the front row in class to see, which embarassed him. In sports, Reagan sometimes got hit in the head with the ball he could not see. It was only at age 9 or 10 that a visiting nurse made the diagnosis. Reagan later said that when he got glasses, he was surprised to discover that trees had leaves and that butterflies existed -- neither of which he had ever been able to see 3 Later in life, Reagan wore contact lenses. When delivering a speech he would remove one lens so he could read his notes and leave one lens in so he could see the audience. Thus, for those around Reagan it was common practice to see him re-inserting a contact lens after speaking Later in life, Reagan wore contact lenses. When delivering a speech he would remove one lens so he could read his notes and leave one lens in so he could see the audience. Thus, for those around Reagan it was common practice to see him re-inserting a contact lens after speaking 3



pneumonia Pneumonia in 1945 caused him to lose 17 pounds 4



femur fracture Reagan fractured a femur in 1949. A "serious fracture," it may have resulted from falling off a horse 5



quit smoking Reagan was a smoker, but quit 6a , supposedly after his brother developed cancer of the voice box 7



prostate stones After a series of urinary tract infections, Reagan had prostate stones surgically removed in 1966. "Since the surgery he's had no problems at all." For many years afterwards Reagan had regular check-ups from a urologist in Santa Monica 5 Another reference Another reference 8 says Dr. T. Burton Smith performed a trans-urethral prostatectomy on Reagan in 1967, presumably because of his history of "well-documented benign prostatic hypertrophy and several episodes of prostatitis." Thus, it is unclear if Reagan had one or two urological operations in the 1960s. (Probably one.)



severe cold About 1978 Reagan had a severe cold that required antibiotics. A chest X-ray was taken because the cold went to his chest. The X-ray was normal 5



TMJ degeneration Reagan presented with left-sided jaw pain in December 1977. It proved to be degeneration of the temporomandibular joint, and was treated with cortisone injection. It did not recur in the next 3 years 5



thumb arthritis Reagan had osteoarthritis of the proximal thumb joint on his right hand. As of 1980, he was not taking medication for it 5



drank little Reagan was reported to drink very little alcohol. His favorite cocktail was "a weak orange blossom" 2c



chronic hay fever Reagan underwent hyposensitization shots for hay fever, and may still have been getting "maintenance" injections at the time of his 1980 election. With this course, his hay fever "was under control." He did not have adverse effects from the shots. 5



general health At the time, Reagan was the oldest man ever to seek the Presidency. Thus, there was concern during his campaigns whether his health was up to the job. He sought to downplay these concerns by vowing to resign the Presidency if he became medically unfit 7 . He also authorized the release of information about his medical history. Quotes from the primary Quotes from the primary 5 of his six 7 physicians include: (1) He is in excellent health. He just underwent a strenuous campaign and had no problems whatsoever. His resistance to colds was remarkable. (2) He exercises every day with a wheel device and rides horseback at his ranch whenever he can. ... It's a single small wheel -- such as you might see on a kid's wagon -- to which two handles are attached. (3) I think he is quite able to handle stress. ... He doesn't take vacations very frequently. (4) I know he eats moderately, and we've told him he should avoid excessive amounts of animal fats and carbohydrates. (5) The standard treadmill tests [have shown] no evidence whatsoever of underlying coronary artery disease. We have also found no evidence of any neurological impairments. (6) When I have done different physical examinations on him, ... he's totally relaxed and undemanding. He goes through those tests in a place that is especially set up for him and where he could pull rank but he doesn't. ... He just accepts the fact that we're doing all these tests. He doesn't ask many questions. (7) [The article also included comments about conditions noted elsewhere on this web page.]



height Reagan was 6 feet 1 inch tall 9 . He weighed 190 pounds in December 1980 5



blood type O-positive Both Ronald and Nancy Reagan are O-positive 10a



shot Reagan was shot on March 30, 1981. A long-nosed .22 caliber bullet, fired from a pistol, ricocheted off the Presidential limosine and entered Reagan's chest, under his left arm. The bullet was of the exploding type, but it did not explode. The main threat to Reagan's life was from blood loss and a collapsed lung 2d After entering Reagan's body, the bullet ricocheted off his left-sided seventh rib. By now the bullet was deformed into a dime-shaped mass, and when it entered Reagan's left lung, it did considerable damage to the lung tissue. The lung began bleeding, and collapsed. The bullet lodged about one inch from the heart. To see the full chronology of events, click here: After entering Reagan's body, the bullet ricocheted off his left-sided seventh rib. By now the bullet was deformed into a dime-shaped mass, and when it entered Reagan's left lung, it did considerable damage to the lung tissue. The lung began bleeding, and collapsed. The bullet lodged about one inch from the heart. To see the full chronology of events, click here: MORE The first-line treatment for a collapsed lung is a chest tube -- a plastic tube that is inserted through the skin, between the ribs, and into the chest cavity where the lungs sit. This is not a difficult procedure, and medical students are often allowed to insert a chest tube (under supervision) after having seen just once how to properly do it. Dr. Zebra was told that a medical student at the George Washington University School of Medicine, doing a rotation in the emergency room, had earlier that day seen a chest tube inserted. Furthermore, the resident supervising the student told him, "OK, you get to put in the chest tube on the next case that comes in." Shortly thereafter, an ashen Reagan walked through the door and collapsed. The resident immediately looked at the student and said: "No!" The first-line treatment for a collapsed lung is a chest tube -- a plastic tube that is inserted through the skin, between the ribs, and into the chest cavity where the lungs sit. This is not a difficult procedure, and medical students are often allowed to insert a chest tube (under supervision) after having seen just once how to properly do it. Dr. Zebra was told that a medical student at the George Washington University School of Medicine, doing a rotation in the emergency room, had earlier that day seen a chest tube inserted. Furthermore, the resident supervising the student told him, "OK, you get to put in the chest tube on the next case that comes in." Shortly thereafter, an ashen Reagan walked through the door and collapsed. The resident immediately looked at the student and said: "No!" 11 It has been noted that Reagan's wound was, at the outset, "much more life-threatening than that of It has been noted that Reagan's wound was, at the outset, "much more life-threatening than that of Garfield or McKinley , who would both have almost certainly survived" had modern surgical care been available to them 2e Throughout the episode, the President's staff was, in the words of Reagan's physician, Throughout the episode, the President's staff was, in the words of Reagan's physician, Dr. Daniel Ruge, "anxious to portray the president as being well. ... But nobody is very well after being shot, and having had an anesthetic, and having lost a lot of blood and having it replaced" 10b . (Reagan lost over half of all the blood in his body 10c .) Ruge felt that Reagan did not recover completely until October, i.e. 6-7 months after the shooting 10b Former aide Michael Deaver says Reagan became more stubborn after the shooting. Reagan believed that he was "chosen" for his role by a higher power, and that the shooting was a reminder of this. He therefore decided to more closely follow his own instincts Former aide Michael Deaver says Reagan became more stubborn after the shooting. Reagan believed that he was "chosen" for his role by a higher power, and that the shooting was a reminder of this. He therefore decided to more closely follow his own instincts 3



hearing aids It has been speculated that Reagan's hearing loss, and eventual use of hearing aids bilaterally, was caused by exposure to gunshot noise while filming numerous Western movies in Hollywood 2c . At the time of his 1980 election, the hearing loss was described as "moderate" 5 . The hearing loss may have been asymmetric to some degree. Reagan's chief of staff, Donald Regan, once tried to deliver a message to Reagan during a press conference, "but Reagan could not hear since Regan was talking into Ronald's deaf ear" 2f . Reagan was fitted with a $1000 custom-made hearing aid in 1983 4



dyed hair How can a 70 year old man have a full head of hair with no gray? The answer comes from The answer comes from Gerald Ford 's observation that "Ronnie doesn't dye his hair, he's just prematurely orange," referring to the fact that "Orange on a middle-aged man means he's been playing unsupervised among the Clairol" 12



exercised Reagan worked out "about 5:00 or so each afternoon, or when the work was done," for an hour or more in a White House bedroom that had been converted into a gym with exercise equipment. He would then take a bath 2c



colon cancer A 1984 proctoscopic examination disclosed a small polyp in Reagan's colon. Biopsy showed it was benign. In March 1985, another polyp was found, as were trace amounts of blood in his stool. A change in Reagan's diet eliminated the blood. He underwent endoscopic removal of the polyp and colonoscopy on July 12, 1985, at Bethesda Naval Medical Center. Colonoscopy disclosed a second, more dangerous tumor -- a villous adenoma -- that could only be removed by surgery. 10d Although Nancy Reagan apparently preferred to delay surgery until the following week on the advice of her astrologer, Reagan preferred to have the surgery the next day -- to avoid having to repeat the colonic preparation Although Nancy Reagan apparently preferred to delay surgery until the following week on the advice of her astrologer, Reagan preferred to have the surgery the next day -- to avoid having to repeat the colonic preparation 10e The operation lasted 2 hours and 53 minutes. The right-sided portion of Reagan's colon was removed -- about 2 feet of length. Exploration of other abdominal structures found no spread of the cancer. The tumor was ultimately classified as a "Duke's B," meaning it had invaded the muscle of the colon, but was confined to the bowel wall The operation lasted 2 hours and 53 minutes. The right-sided portion of Reagan's colon was removed -- about 2 feet of length. Exploration of other abdominal structures found no spread of the cancer. The tumor was ultimately classified as a "Duke's B," meaning it had invaded the muscle of the colon, but was confined to the bowel wall 10f Post-operatively, one of the surgeons remarked about the then-74-year-old President: "This man has the insides of a forty year old" 2g . Reagan left the hospital on July 20 13 As a result of the surgery, Reagan transferred Presidential power to Vice President As a result of the surgery, Reagan transferred Presidential power to Vice President Bush for 7 hours and 50 minutes MORE 10g . It is often written that Reagan invoked section 3 of the 25th Amendment to make this transfer, but he did not explicitly invoke the Amendment 10h



colonic polyps Reagan had CAT scans every six months after his 1985 cancer surgery. It is not clear whether one of these scans or another test discovered two polyps in Reagan's colon in 1987. The polyps, said by his physician, Dr. John E. Hutton, to be small and apparently benign, were removed during colonoscopy at the White House on July 28, 1987 2h



skin cancer A small basal cell carcinoma (a type of skin cancer) was removed from Reagan's nose on July 31, 1987. Later, a larger area of tissue surrounding the lesion was excised, under local anesthesia at Bethesda Naval Hospital 2h Another basal cell carcinoma was removed from his neck in 1995 Another basal cell carcinoma was removed from his neck in 1995 4



chainsaw laceration Dr. John Hutton recalled encountering Reagan at the Reagans' California ranch (this seems to have been during the Presidency): "He smiled, reached up and grabbed my hand. Then I noticed he had a big hole in his dungarees, and there was blood all around it. He was out with his chain saw and he had cut his thigh. If he'd gone another inch, he might have hit a big artery, but it was a glancing blow." 14



prostate enlargement Underwent transurethral prostate surgery in November 1987 because of benign prostatic hypertrophy. The procedure went smoothly 2h . Also: 15a . Had (perhaps) previously undergone the same operation in 1967 (see above) 8 "The Cold War began to end when two elderly gentlemen discovered that they shared a common difficulty with their bladders." Soviet foreign minister Andrei Gromyko was at the White House. Reagan was supposed to raise one crucial, secret issue when the two were alone. Security people watched Reagan and Gromyko alone in the Oval Office, nodding in conversation. Afterwards, US State Department people asked the Soviets for their reaction to the secret issue. The Soviets looked blank. What secret issue? "Reagan, 73, had asked Gromyko, 75, only if he would like to use the private Presidential lavatory. Indeed Gromyko would. Very much. He went first. Reagan went second. They washed their hands and, much relieved, the two old fellows strolled in to lunch. Arms control was forgotten, but a certain rapport had been forged among the faucets." "The Cold War began to end when two elderly gentlemen discovered that they shared a common difficulty with their bladders." Soviet foreign minister Andrei Gromyko was at the White House. Reagan was supposed to raise one crucial, secret issue when the two were alone. Security people watched Reagan and Gromyko alone in the Oval Office, nodding in conversation. Afterwards, US State Department people asked the Soviets for their reaction to the secret issue. The Soviets looked blank. What secret issue? "Reagan, 73, had asked Gromyko, 75, only if he would like to use the private Presidential lavatory. Indeed Gromyko would. Very much. He went first. Reagan went second. They washed their hands and, much relieved, the two old fellows strolled in to lunch. Arms control was forgotten, but a certain rapport had been forged among the faucets." 16a



Alzheimer harbingers

Recovering from being shot (three months into his presidency), Reagan became disoriented in the intensive care unit. His physicians, therefore, pressed to have him moved to a hospital suite 10i Thus, Thus, Gerald Ford 's assessment is relevant: "He was not what I would [call] a technically competent president. You know, his knowledge of the budget, his knowledge of foreign policy -- it was not up to the standards of either Democrat or Republican presidents. But he had a helluva flair.... So I praise his assets, but I have reservations about his technical ability" 17a Reagan's mother was "senile" for "a few years" before she died of atherosclerotic disease at age 80 Reagan's mother was "senile" for "a few years" before she died of atherosclerotic disease at age 80 7



Alzheimer disease At one time Reagan "possessed a remarkable memory that his brother described as photographic" 1 . Soon after graduating from college, he auditioned for a sports announcer job by "re-creating the fourth quarter of a Eureka College football game from memory" 1 . (Reagan had played in the game.) As an actor, "much of Reagan's early career was spent in the B-film division, where his knack for quick memorization made him a valuable asset. Producers of B-films, as Reagan often put it, 'didn't want them good, they wanted them Thursday'" 1 By contrast, as President, in his 70s, "He forgot the names of Cabinet officers, trusted aides and visiting dignitaries. In Brazil, he toasted the people of Bolivia" By contrast, as President, in his 70s, "He forgot the names of Cabinet officers, trusted aides and visiting dignitaries. In Brazil, he toasted the people of Bolivia" 1 . A friend tells Dr. Zebra of a film clip in which Reagan, as President, is asked a question, only to look completely blank until the camera audio picks up his wife Nancy whispering an evasive answer ("We're doing all that we can") into Reagan's ear, which he then speaks. In 1993 Reagan became increasingly forgetful. Alzheimer disease was diagnosed during his annual visit to the Mayo Clinic in 1994. His condition was announced to the public in a carefully worded letter to the American people on Nov. 5, 1994 MORE In 1993 Reagan became increasingly forgetful. Alzheimer disease was diagnosed during his annual visit to the Mayo Clinic in 1994. His condition was announced to the public in a carefully worded letter to the American people on Nov. 5, 1994 1 According to According to Gerald Ford , Reagan was stll able to write a letter the week of the public announcement, but by by 1995 he did not recognize people and a 24-hour nurse for him was being sought 17b . Ford also said that he visited Reagan in Century City (Reagan's office) in January 1999, but Reagan did not recognize him at all, despite Ford's best efforts 17c There is an interesting photograph of Reagan, taken in 1996, that shows a visible sign of his Alzheimer disease There is an interesting photograph of Reagan, taken in 1996, that shows a visible sign of his Alzheimer disease MORE . He is shown standing with a model of the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan, a ship named in his honor, along with his wife and the CEO of the company building the ship. Reagan's necktie peeks out below the button of his suit coat. Reagan was extremely careful with his appearance all his life -- as an actor and as a President who wore $1000 suits -- so this tiny slip is actually significant, as a sign of inattention caused by his disease. (For a case in which this sign was actually responsible for the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease in a business executive, see 18a .) Was Reagan symptomatic while in office? There was speculation about his mental function as early as 1987, just after he underwent his third major operation while in office (prostate). In response, Reagan held a press conference on March 19, 1987 in which he performed extremely well in front of a hostile press Was Reagan symptomatic while in office? There was speculation about his mental function as early as 1987, just after he underwent his third major operation while in office (prostate). In response, Reagan held a press conference on March 19, 1987 in which he performed extremely well in front of a hostile press 15a Gerald Ford visited Reagan when the disease was well advanced. "He barely recognized me. . . I tried to bring up things that would refresh his memory, but he was not the Ronald Reagan that I [had known]" 17d



adhesions Required "surgeries to eliminate scar tissue" that developed as a result of the 1985 colon cancer operation. In 1990 additional scar tissue forced postponment of a planned trip to Europe 4



bleed Epidural hematoma after falling off a horse while vacationing in Mexico. Underwent neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN 4



hip fracture Reagan fell at his home on January 12, 2001, breaking his hip. He was taken by ambulance to St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. On the morning of January 14, Dr. Kevin Ehrhart, led the surgical team that "inserted metal pins and screws into Reagan's hip." Dr. Ehrhart expected that Reagan's recovery would be complicated by coexisting Alzheimer disease. 19