Warning Signs That Hint Bill Clinton's Health May Be On The Decline

Most young adults weren't even alive when former President Bill Clinton first ran for office in 1992. Back then, Clinton and his running mate, Al Gore, were much younger than their opponents, 68-year-old George H.W. Bush and 62-year-old Ross Perot. Clinton was only 46 when he took office. For perspective, he's actually two months younger than current President Donald Trump.

(Here are some warning signs Donald Trump's health may be on the decline.)

Like many men in their late 70s, Clinton has had a few health scares over the years. Recently, The Daily Mail photographed him in the Hamptons carrying a portable defibrillator and a transport monitor. You might recognize defibrillators like these from airports, schools, or government buildings. Defibrillators check a person's heart rhythm and can deliver a shock if someone goes into cardiac arrest.

In June, while promoting his book "The First Gentleman," Clinton appeared to stumble slightly as he stepped onto a New York City sidewalk. The clip was posted on X and fueled rumors about his health. Although Clinton didn't comment about the stumble or the defibrillator, he has had some health problems in the past.

"Saturday Night Live" fans might remember Phil Hartman's impression of Bill Clinton going for runs on the campaign trail and stopping at McDonald's along the way. One McDonald's near the governor's mansion in Arkansas even has a plaque of Clinton, who often dropped in during his morning runs as governor. Despite his active routine, Clinton needed quadruple bypass surgery just three years after leaving office. He was just 58.

According to Politico, some of Clinton's arteries were more than 90% blocked. A few months before the four-hour surgery, he had been complaining of chest pains and shortness of breath (here are other warnings of heart disease you should never ignore). Clinton admitted that his heart disease came partly from family history and partly from his unhealthy diet. His mother's side had a history of heart disease, and he also acknowledged that his love for McDonald's didn't do him any favors. Still, because he had stayed active, he was able to recover quickly from surgery.

Clinton's heart troubles didn't end there. He told AARP that in 2010 he saw his cardiologist after waking up pale and tired. Tests revealed that a vein had failed, and he needed another procedure to insert two stents. Not long after, Clinton adopted a vegan diet, which helped him lose 30 pounds before his daughter Chelsea's wedding.

Bill Clinton's health issues aren't just about his heart. Clinton has also faced other health issues that can become more serious with age. While urinary tract infections are usually treated with antibiotics, he developed a urological infection in 2021 that progressed to sepsis (per the New York Times). Sepsis can occur when the immune system not only fights the infection but also damages the body's organs. Sepsis often requires hospitalization to prevent septic shock, which can be fatal. Clinton was treated with antibiotics and released less than a week later.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults over 65 get a flu shot every fall to lower their risk of serious complications. Older adults are more likely to be hospitalized with the flu because their immune systems aren't as strong as those of younger people. In December 2024, Clinton was hospitalized in Washington, D.C., after developing a fever linked to the flu (per NBC News). He was released the following day.