Profiles in Heart Disease: Dick Cheney

At age 37, the former White House chief of staff -- then running for Congress -- suffered his first heart attack, which occurs when blood supply to the heart muscle is interrupted, usually by plaque (fatty deposits) buildup in the arteries. In someone under 40, the condition, known as atherosclerosis, is usually hereditary. He had a second heart attack in 1984.

Quadruple bypass surgery: After his third heart attack in 1988, and just before his 48^th birthday, Cheney underwent a surgery also known as coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). In that procedure, surgeons redirect blood flow to the heart through segments of healthy blood vessels taken from other parts of the body. Cheney experienced no cardiac problems for 12 years following his CABG.

Two angioplasties: After a mild heart attack at the close of the 2000 presidential election, Cheney had an angioplasty (insertion and inflation of a tiny balloon into an artery) and a stent, or metal support, was put in place to keep the artery open. Six months later, Cheney had another angioplasty to unblock the same artery.

Defibrillator implant: In 2001, tests revealed an asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (fast, irregular heartbeat). Cheney underwent a cardiac catheterization (wires threaded through his groin to his heart to test heart rate) before doctors inserted an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), which observes and corrects the condition also known as a-fib. A newer model replaced the original ICD in 2007.

Atrial aneurism repair: Cheney had surgery on the back of both knees to repair bulging blood vessels in 2005.

Electrical cardioversions: In 2007, Cheney underwent electric shock which successfully restored his normal heart rhythm. In October 2008, a second such procedure went "smoothly and without complications," according to a spokesperson quoted by CNN.

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