Vascular and heart diseases in the incumbent presidents and vice presidents of the United States of america: a medical-historical perspective.

Vascular diseases have been the major cause of death and disability in presidents and vice presidents of the United States. Untreated hypertension and cigarette smoking have contributed greatly to this increased morbidity and mortality risk, which has impacted on historical events, especially in the 20th century. In this article, the medical histories of those incumbent Presidents and Vice Presidents who suffered from coronary artery and cerebrovascular diseases will be reviewed. A discussion of how atrial fibrillation has affected the Presidents is also included.