It’s heartbreaking when we hear about famous politicians with health problems.
I mean, some of them are our favorite people and as such, we don’t want to see them suffer
But in all seriousness, it is jarring when an individual in a position of power and wealth gets stricken with a health condition.
We are easily reminded of their humanity and are capable of visualizing them as more than just a media construct.
Ever wondered what some of your favorite (and not so favorite) politicians are dealing with medically? Well, the list below is here to provide answers.
First on our list is everyone’s favorite:
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Bill Clinton
William Jefferson Clinton is easily one of the most popular presidents in American history.
The charismatic and charming former president from Arkansas definitely made a mark during his time in the oval office.
His policies, his achievements and the fact that he may or may not have had ‘sexual relations with that woman’ was put on display for all the world to see.
What was not put on display for the world, however, was the fact that in 2004, Bill Clinton underwent a quadruple bypass surgery on his heart.
In 2005, he also underwent a surgery for a collapsed lung.
And in 2010, he had further surgery on his heart receiving two coronary stents in his heart.
2. John F. Kennedy
It is literally impossible to mention famous politicians without mentioning a Kennedy.
However, it is a little sad to mention them when you’re talking about famous politicians with health problems (they’ve been through so much already).
Before he was assassinated, President Kennedy suffered from quite a number of sicknesses including prostatitis, Addison’s disease, osteoporosis, and colitis.
Despite all this, he was capable of leading the country and becoming a beloved president.
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3. Margaret Thatcher
But you probably know her better as the Iron Lady of England.
From 1975-1990, she was the leader of the Conservative Party.
She also served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979-1990.
She is not only the first woman to hold this office but also the longest-serving British Prime Minister in the twentieth century.
She is arguably the most powerful British woman in the twentieth century and that is saying a lot considering they have an actual queen.
Unfortunately, later in her life, Margaret Thatcher suffered from multiple strokes which caused dementia and mental deterioration and eventually led to her death in 2013.
Margaret Thatcher was 87 years old when she died.
4. Princess Diana
Speaking of British women who left a mark on history…
While Princess Diana was technically not a politician, she was still the Princess of Wales.
The late Princess won the hearts of the British people through her devotion to humanitarian causes and she won the hearts of the world through her beauty, hard work and yes, fashion sense.
Due to the severity of public interest and scrutiny she was under, Diana developed critical cases of bulimia and depression. She was also a self-cutter – a reminder that mental health issues are just as harmful as physical health issues.
Many biographers also believed she had Borderline Personality Disorder (which is sometimes referred to as emotionally unstable personality disorder).
Princess Diana passed away on the 31st of August 1997.
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5. Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French leader and military ruler who gained prominence after he led successful campaigns during the French Revolution and the Revolutionary wars.
Due to his successful command of the military, he later became the Emperor of France.
But I’m sure you already know all of this.
You probably also know that he was known for his neurotic attributes and his extravagant behavior.
What you probably didn’t know is that these characteristics were believed to be the result of Napoleon acting out against his…’vertical challenge’.
However, thanks to recent scientific information, it is believed that Napoleon’s mood swings and temperamental behavior could be as a result of Narcissistic personality disorder and megalomania.
6. Lula Da Silva
The Brazilian politician, sometimes only referred to as ‘Lula’ served as President of Brazil from the 1st of January 2003 to the 1st of January 2011.
Before becoming president in 2003, Lula ran for Presidency three times before and was unsuccessful in every case until the 2002 presidential election.
In 2011, Lula was diagnosed with throat cancer and underwent a grueling surgery and chemotherapy in order to regain his health back.
The last but not least on our list is none other than:
7. Abraham Lincoln (A.K.A the man who cannot tell a lie)
Very few American Presidents have the name recognition Abraham Lincoln has, which is saying a lot considering he was president almost two centuries ago.
Over the years, there’s been plays, movies, rumors and books about Abraham’s life.
Curiously, one little fact about his life that is rarely discussed is his health.
It is rather saddening to add the beloved president to this list of famous politicians with health problems but the president who suffered from depression his whole life also had to deal with syphilis, malaria, and Smallpox.
Due to his unusual height and slender form, many scientists also believe he suffered from Marfan Syndrome, a rare genetic disease.