True or False: Joe Biden Had Brain Surgery?

Joe Biden, the next President of America, faced several issues in the past. However, the future president's health is one of the most controversial. 

Since president-elect Joe Biden will soon take over and perform the president's duties, the nation of the United States ponders on questions regarding his health. Though in good health now, WebMD reports that the president-elect had not been free from medical complications. In their article, they note that Biden had two episodes of aneurysm back in 1998, which was already treated. 

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Did he undergo brain surgery?

(Photo : Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden smiles during the vice presidential debate at Centre College October 11, 2012 in Danville, Kentucky. This is the second of four debates during the presidential election season and the only debate between the vice presidential candidates before the closely-contested election November 6.

In a report by WebMD, one of the two aneurysms did rupture. Associate professor of medicine and executive medicine director from George Washington University, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, said in an interview with the Snopes that the rupture in Biden's brain was repaired surgically.

"During this workup, his team discovered a second aneurism, which had not bled. This was also treated. He has never had any recurrences of any aneurisms. A 2014 CT angiogram showed no recurrence of disease."

According to Medline Plus, if an aneurysm in the brain breaks open or rupture, it is an emergency that needs medical treatment in the hospital. They added that usually, surgery is the treatment for the rupture, especially endovascular surgery. 

National Health Service (NHS) added that an individual who experienced a rupture would also be given nimodipine to reduce the blood supply's risk to the brain becomes disrupted. 

Head of endovascular neurosurgery from John Hopkins Medicine, Cameron McDougall, MD, said in an interview with WebMD that this part of Biden's medical history is not particularly significant in predicting his future health. He added that anyone could have an aneurysm, and there is only a 10-20 percent chance that an individual will have another episode of the condition. He also notes that if aneurysms are well-treated, they will not have any ongoing impact. 

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How Healthy is Biden?

WebMD mentions a medical assessment by the George Washington University. According to the evaluation, the president-elect takes blood thinners and treatments for acid reflux, seasonal allergies, and cholesterol control. 

Dr. O'Connor also told WebMD that Biden does not utilize tobacco, consumes alcohol, and exercises five days a week. The assessment also added that Biden had a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. However, the evaluation notes that the president-elect has never required any medication and or electrical treatments to help the rhythm of his heartbeat. 

Moreover, the assessment concludes that the president-elect is fit to execute the roles of the president.

What is Aneurysm?

According to Medical News Today, an aneurysm is the enlargement of an artery triggered by weakness in the arterial wall. They added that there are no often symptoms of the condition, but a ruptured aneurysm can cause fatal complications. 

Mayo Clinic describes the appearance of the condition as a berry hanging on a stem. WebMD adds that the blood vessel area gets worn out from constant blood flow and bulges out like a bubble. Mayo Clinic also emphasized that most of the brain aneurysms do not rupture, create health problems. 

Typically, when the aneurysm is engaged in a conversation since it is a brain injury, people think it needs surgery. According to Medline Plus, not all aneurysms need to be medicated right away. They added that aneurysms have never bled, especially if they are very small (3 mm at their largest point). 

In addition, Healthline notes that if a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, it can cause bleeding in the brain or stroke. They added that this could lead to brain damage or even death. However, they stress in their article that the rupturing of the brain aneurysm age, medical history, location of the aneurysm, and its size. They also emphasized that arteries toward the front side of the brain are less likely to rupture.

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