Introduction to Dick Cheney’s Heart Trouble

Former Vice President Dick Cheney battled heart disease for most of his adult life, a life extended thanks in part to a heart transplant in 2012. Cheney, who died Monday due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, had his first heart attack at the unusually young age of 37. He would go on to survive four more before his heart declined enough to qualify for that transplant.

Understanding Heart Disease

Heart disease is the nation’s No. 1 killer and Cheney’s decades of health problems illustrate how heart trouble can accumulate — as well as the varied treatments.

Cheney’s Heart History

Over the years, Cheney underwent quadruple bypass surgery to reroute blood flow around clogged heart arteries as well as less invasive artery-clearing angioplasties. He had a pacemaker implanted to monitor his heartbeat. He also experienced blood vessel problems in his legs.

The Impact of Heart Attacks

Heart attacks damage the heart’s muscle, eventually making it harder to pump properly. After Cheney’s fifth heart attack in 2010, he acknowledged “increasing congestive heart failure.” He received another implant, a small pump called a “left ventricular assist device” or LVAD. That device took over the job of his heart’s main pumping chamber, powered by batteries worn in a fanny pack.

The Heart Transplant

Then in March 2012, at the age of 71, Cheney received a heart transplant. Like him, more than 70% of heart transplant recipients live at least five years, many longer. Cheney was older than a typical heart transplant recipient; most are 50 to 64 years old. But he was one of 362 people age 65 or older who received a new heart in 2012, according to the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplant Network, or OPTN.

The Need for More Transplantable Hearts

There’s a huge need for more transplantable hearts. Hundreds of thousands of adults suffer from advanced heart failure yet many are never placed on the transplant list, in part because of the organ shortage. According to the organ network, 4,572 people received a heart transplant last year. That number of has grown gradually since Cheney’s — there were 2,378 transplants in 2012. So have the number of recipients 65 or older — 905 last year.

Conclusion

Dick Cheney’s battle with heart disease and his eventual heart transplant serve as a reminder of the importance of addressing heart health. His story highlights the various treatments available for heart disease, from bypass surgery and angioplasties to heart transplants. It also underscores the need for more transplantable hearts and the importance of ongoing research and support for heart health initiatives.

FAQs

• Q: At what age did Dick Cheney have his first heart attack?
  A: Dick Cheney had his first heart attack at the age of 37.
• Q: What is a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), and how does it work?
  A: A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a small pump that takes over the job of the heart’s main pumping chamber. It is powered by batteries worn in a fanny pack.
• Q: How many people received a heart transplant in 2012, and how has that number changed over time?
  A: In 2012, 2,378 people received a heart transplant. This number has grown gradually over time, with 4,572 people receiving a heart transplant last year.
• Q: What is the current need for transplantable hearts, and why is there a shortage?
  A: There is a huge need for more transplantable hearts due to hundreds of thousands of adults suffering from advanced heart failure. The shortage is partly because many are never placed on the transplant list due to the organ shortage.

  Associated Press

  The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.