Anti-Aging and President John F. Kennedy
What do President John F. Kennedy and Anti-Aging Medicine have in common? The late president’s health can be a source of inspiration for you to take action.
To make an appointment to see Dr. Bieley, call our office 561-842-7422.
Happy New Year everyone!
My Dad, and others used to say, “Knowledge is power”. That is not exactly correct. Your thoughts, your intentions, and your wishes accomplish nothing. It is only after you take action on your thoughts/intentions/wishes that makes a difference.
I travelled to the Kennedy Library in Boston and reviewed roughly 90% of his medical records. I was going to write about him being the most prominent person with Addison’s Disease (no production of the hormone cortisol), and I ended up making two observations. First, President Kennedy did not have Addison’s disease. Second, he was an early adopter of an anti-aging medicine lifestyle.
Please realize that during President Kennedys life there was not the term, used now, adrenal fatigue. After the medical record review, it is not just my opinion, but the opinion of some of his treating doctors that Kennedy did not have Addison’s disease. He did have adrenal fatigue. These are my handwritten copies of notes from my trip to his Presidential Library.
George Washington University Hospital – Progress Notes 7/15/53 (medical chart)
“I do not believe this patient has primary Addison’s disease for the following reasons: 1. We do not know how the medical diagnosis was established. 2. Since 1947, when this diagnosis was made he has had recurrent attacks characterized by vomiting, headaches, chills and fever and possibly hypo____(sic). The attacks occur every nine months and all usually re____(sic) by fatigue + possibly rapid temperature changes. All of this would be cognizant of Addisons except the chills + fever, but they occur while at is the pellet (DOCA) and ceph cx (sic) all self, limited to about 2 days. Furthermore, in the interview patient _____ no notable lassitude”.
Source: Sunday Star 8/5/62
“President had a sore throat, flush face and recurrent back pain. He was treated with PCN. T 101.6, 173# (was 165# when he became President) BP 112/80. JFK “still gets corticosteroids by mouth to ensure optimal adrenal coverage”
“WWII Solomon islands, JFK is 26 years old, 127#, suffered from exhaustion.”
“1960 Kennedy doctors contended that tests indicated Mr. Kennedys adrenal function was normal, but conceded he would continue to take corticosteroids by mouth as a safeguard.”
“A year ago, Dr. Janet Travell, the white house doctor said the President still had ‘mild’ adrenal insufficiency”.
You might recall that before Kennedy became president, he was in the Navy on patrol boat PT-141, that got blown up in the middle of the night. John Kennedy heroically towed by his teeth the life jacket strap of another office all night long while swimming in pitch black waters, and fortunately, they were rescued the next day. That stressful episode is enough to put anyone into adrenal fatigue.
For the second part of my discussion on Kennedy, he did indeed receive bio-identical hormones, vitamins, minerals, antioxidant supplements and lifestyle interventions as noted in his medical records and as now shown.
Here are notes from President Kennedy’s doctor, Dr. Janet Travell. Note the following:
T3 is that active form of thyroid hormone.
MT is methyl-testosterone, 25mg.
Theragran is a multivitamin supplement.
C 500 is Vitamin C, 500mg, and is an antioxidant.
HC is hydrocortisone, a steroid hormone, and is used as an anti-inflammatory and to support adrenal gland function.
Os-cal is a dietary supplement to build bone.
I think that some of you longtime residents of Palm Beach may get a kick out of seeing his prescriptions from Royal Poinciana Pharmacy and the telephone number used at that time: TEmple3-5470.
Medical notes from 1/11/62
12:30 pm State of the Union- looks tired
6pm runny nose treated with Chlortrimeton 8mg repetabs
7:15pm HC 10mg , Actifed 1 tab- stat
8:15pm nasal secretions - 1 codine grain ½
1/15/62
Prescription from Royal Poinciana Pharmacy
333 Poinciana Plaza
Palm Beach, FL
Phone: TEmple 3-5470
Wt: 174 #
1/28/62 Palm Beach, FL
MT continue 10 mg
Hypo: B1, B12, B6
BP: 126/72, supine
Wt 178#
Out on Honey Fitz with Father
1/12/62
2:15pm
MT 25 mg + extra MT 25mg
3:30pm with Dr. Burkley
B1 50 mg (all IM)
B6 50 mg
B12 500mcg
Plebex 1cc
Also Sudafed 60 mg tab
Vile of Novohistine 1 bid-tid
5pm JFK complained of a sore throat and was chilly. He wanted the heat turned down
Throat was red with lymphoid follicles swollen diffusely throughout pharynx. Culture taken (left) tonsillar region with throat swab. Throat swab with mercurochrome.
Also received Procaine PCN 600, 000 IU IM and
Armour Immune Serum Globulin Human 2.2 cc IM
Note by Janet Travell, MD
White House doctor’s notes: 3/1/62
AM codine grain ½; one phenecetin grains 5
1:20 pm to 2:15pm – long swim in the pool
2:15pm
Requested B vits IM
B12 1,000 mcg
Plebex- B complex 1 cc
B1 50 mg
B6 25 mg
3/19/62 Dr. Kraus’s stretching exercises (for President Kennedy):
Swimming pool
Lumbar sacral corset for pain relief
Although these are snippets from his medical records it is clear, John F. Kennedy adopted an anti-aging medicine lifestyle. The term anti-aging medicine lifestyle means incorporating antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, hormone replacement, and exercise (as a lifestyle). He did all these things before the term was coined by Drs. Goldman and Klatz, and before it became in vogue to see an anti-aging medicine doctor.
Let this lesson be an inspiration to you to become a patient, or to follow up on your lab work.
Take action. Call our office 561-842-7422. Make an appointment to see Dr. Bieley.