Dick Cheney Survived A Staggering Number Of Heart Attacks During His Life

Heart disease tops the list of the leading causes of death in the United States; having heart disease can, in turn, lead to a heart attack. Fortunately, medicine has advanced to the point that not all heart attacks or related events are fatal.

Take the case of former Vice President Dick Cheney, a man who experienced his first heart attack at age 37 and lived the rest of his life dealing with the realities of heart disease. (For perspective, men typically aren't at risk of having a first heart attack until after they reach age 65.)

Cheney died when he was 84 years old, which is more than 8 years longer than the average life expectancy for a man living in America (per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). He experienced a total of five heart attacks; notably, the fourth one that affected him occurred after the 2000 presidential election.

Cheney underwent a series of treatments that allowed him to maintain a high quality of life despite living with complications of heart disease. Importantly, he had a quadruple bypass surgery in 1988, as well as a heart transplant more than two decades later (via USA Today). But he reportedly changed his behaviors and habits to further lower his risks. His former cardiologist, Dr. Jonathan Reiner, lauded Cheney for being willing to take better care of himself by quitting smoking (Cheney smoked as many as three packs a day at one point), managing his cholesterol levels, and exercising (via CNN). 

Of course, Cheney isn't alone in being able to extend his life despite having a chronic condition that affected his cardiovascular system. According to CNN reporting, heart attack deaths plummeted by almost 90% between 2020 and 2025. Medical resident Dr. Sara King explained why in a statement to the news outlet, "Over the past 50 years, our understanding of heart disease, what causes it and how we treat it has evolved considerably."

Beta blockers are typically prescribed for patients who have had a heart attack. Cheney reportedly took beta blockers after at least one incident, and according to his doctors, the medication worked as expected.

That said, findings suggest that beta blockers may not actually be working as they should, at least for females. A 2025 study in the European Heart Journal showed that women who were given beta blockers after a heart attack were statistically more likely to have another heart attack, and possibly a fatal one. However, the same trend was not observed in men who took the drug.

This research has shaken up the understanding of the safety and effectiveness of beta blockers as a heart disease treatment in women. It has also started conversations on whether or not beta blockers should continue to be prescribed for most people with heart disease symptoms. "These findings will reshape all international clinical guidelines on the use of beta blockers in men and women and should spark a long-needed, sex-specific approach to treatment for cardiovascular disease," study author Dr. Valentin Fuster told CNN.