Did Winston Churchill suffer a myocardial infarction in the White House at Christmas 1941?

Abstract

While staying in the White House over Christmas 1941, Churchill developed chest pain on trying to open a window in his bedroom. Sir Charles Wilson, his personal physician, diagnosed a 'heart attack' (myocardial infarction). Wilson, for political and personal reasons, decided not to inform his patient of the diagnosis or obtain assistance from US medical colleagues. On Churchill's return to London, Wilson sought a second opinion from Dr John Parkinson who did not support the diagnosis of coronary thrombosis (myocardial infarction) and reassured Churchill accordingly.

Christmas, national holidays, sport events, and time factors as triggers of acute myocardial infarction: SWEDEHEART observational study 1998-2013

“… 21 22 23 24 Sir Winston Churchill is thought to have experienced myocardial infarction while visiting the White House during Christmas 1941. 25 However, most studies have used surrogate variables, such as mortality due to myocardial infarction, ambulance records, death certificates, and administrative data including International Classification of Diseases codes as indicators of myocardial infarction, and as such may introduce bias through misclassification and uncertainties in time of symptom onset. Thus, there is a lack of more granular data with exact time of symptom onset, as well as severity and type of myocardial infarction in a nationwide setting.…”

Winston Churchill’s acute stroke in June 1953

“…As always, he did all the work himself in the sense of dictating the telegrams himself after reaching the decision.' 1 On 21 June, Churchill sent Eisenhower a note of those who would accompany him to Bermuda. 1 Two days later, Churchill telegraphed Eisenhower again regarding the meeting.…”

Winston Churchill: a left hemisphere stroke or possible focal seizure on 20 October 1956

“…For the next two days Churchill repeated his climb to inspect the progress of his new building. 13 Churchill's doctors 25 He treated Churchill for chest pain in December 1941 in Washington, 26 for pneumonia in London in February 1943, 27 for pneumonia and atrial fibrillation in Carthage in December 1943, 28 and for pneumonia in London in August 1944. 27 Moran also treated Churchill in 1949 when he suffered his first stroke 3 and was primarily responsible for managing the further episodes of cerebrovascular disease in 1950-1952, 4 his second stroke in 1953 5 and Churchill's recovery from it 6 and the cerebellar infarction in June 1955, again with an excellent recovery.…”

“…7 Wilson was knighted in 1938, created Baron Moran of Manton in the County of Wiltshire in 1943 and was appointed Treasurer (1938)(1939)(1940)(1941) then President of the Royal College of Physicians of London (1941)(1942)(1943)(1944)(1945)(1946)(1947)(1948)(1949)(1950). 26 Dr Dafydd ('David') Myrddin Roberts Roberts qualified from Cardiff in 1933 and was commissioned on 7 February 1941 as Flying Officer, Medical Branch RAF Volunteer Reserve, with home postings. He relinquished his commission on 5 January 1943 because of ill health.…”