Get An ENT To The White House: Experts Discuss Presidential Struggles With Otolaryngologic Disorders

Main Category: Ear, Nose and Throat
Also Included In: Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia
Article Date: 24 Sep 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Even as John McCain and Barack Obama face the wear and tear of the campaign trail, the men who preceded them in the White House might warn of the various ear, nose, and throat ailments that plagued their terms in office. Presidential otolaryngologic health was the topic of discussion during a roundtable mini-seminar during the 2008 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, in Chicago, IL.

The session, held Tuesday, September 23, 2008, addressed, among other things, George Washington's premature and sudden death, which may have stemmed from a acute complication of tonsillitis (peritonsillar abscess).

Another topic covered William Howard Taft's difficulties with sleep apnea, a then-unknown disease, which is blamed for a four-year Presidential term without a single good night's sleep.

Finally, there was a discussion detailing two presidents who battled head and neck cancer while in office, with quite opposite results, illustrating the marked improvement in treating the malady during the short time between their presidencies.

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Title: Presidential Problems: Otolaryngologic Disorders of the United States Presidents
Presenters: Lawrence R. Lustig, MD (moderator); Andrew Spector, MD; Lanny G. Close, MD; C. Robert Pettit, MD; Robert J. Ruben, MD; John W. House, MD
Date: Tuesday, September 23

About the AAO-HNS

The American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (http://www.entnet.org/), one of the oldest medical associations in the nation, represents more than 12,000 physicians and allied health professionals who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. The Academy serves its members by facilitating the advancement of the science and art of medicine related to otolaryngology and by representing the specialty in governmental and socioeconomic issues. The organization's vision: "Empowering otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons to deliver the best patient care."

Source: Matt Daigle
American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery

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