Senator Mitch McConnell arrived for the usual briefings on July 26, surrounded by the press and other senators.
As the meeting went on, everyone paused for a second before minor disarray ensued as Senate Minority Leader McConnell was aided out. Everyone at the conference was concerned when the senate froze mid-sentence during the briefing.
He did return to the podium in a short while, but the incident perturbed people as the video went viral on social media.
Here are all the latest updates on Mitch McConnell’s health condition.
What Happened to Mitch McConnell?
Mitch Connell took to the podium for standard briefings. While addressing the media, he unexpectedly froze in the middle of the sentence. Senator John Barrasso, who was standing just a foot away from the podium, leaned over to Senator McConnell and asked him–
“Hey Mitch, anything else you want to say?”
“Or should we just go back to your office? Do you want to say anything else to the press?”
When Mr. McConnell remained unresponsive, the aide hurried in for quick medical care. During the assessment, he stated feeling “lightheaded.”
But the media was surprised as the senator soon returned to the podium to answer more questions. He proceeded to address more questions than usual with clear speech. He was even asked about what occurred moments ago, to which he replied, “I’m fine” and would continue his duties as the senate leader.
Post the media conference, he also attended his regular weekly meeting with Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
No other statements have been issued from the senator’s side; regarding whether or not he will be getting any further physical assessment. But there are a few estimations by health experts on evaluating the incident. Let us decode what happened to Mr. McConnell.
Did Mitch Have a Stroke?
Since there are no official reports confirming the senator’s health scare episode, the online narrative has tilted towards the possibility of a “stroke.”
A few health professionals have associated the symptoms similar to a stroke, such as an abrupt pause in movement and being unresponsive to external stimulation. Since the exact medical analysis is not known yet, there are no definitive answers to what happened to Senator Mitch McConnell.
Senator McConnell had also encountered an incident where he fell in a Washington D.C. hotel and sustained a concussion and a rib injury. He was under medical monitoring for five days and then moved to a rehabilitation center for complete healing.
He took six weeks of absence to recuperate and returned to resume his duties just three months ago. McConnell still worked from home for a few days before returning to the Capitol.
What Does Mitch McConnell Have?
As per the running speculations, Mitch McConnell probably suffered from a mini-stroke since he was able to regain his state soon after.
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
The medical term for a mini-stroke is called a transient ischemic attack or TIA. The primary identifier of this stroke is that it lasts for a smaller duration, typically not more than a few minutes.
CAUSE:
When the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted for a brief period.
SYMPTOMS:
The symptoms are similar to a regular stroke but do not last as long. A TIA stroke’s after-effect lasts between an hour and 24 hours. These include:
- Unresponsive and freezing in position
- Numbness on either one side of the body or the entire leg, arm, or face.
- Obscured vision in both eyes.
- Light-headedness, dizziness, difficulty in walking.
- Type of brain fog which causes confusion in talking or understanding speech.
- Loss of balance and coordination.
Senator McConnell exhibits the majority of these symptoms– as seen in the video. Hence, it’s plausible that he suffered from a TIA.
How Old Is Mitch McConnell? How Many Years Did Mitch McConnell Serve?
Mitch McConnell was born in Sheffield, Alabama, on February 20, 1942. He is currently 81 years old as he serves his second term.
Mitch McConnell was appointed the Senate leader of the Republican Party in 2007. From 2007 to 2015, he served as the minority leader and was again appointed majority leader from 2015 to 2021.
After this incident, the discourse on age and term limits has resurfaced again.
The opposition party has criticized Biden’s second term on the grounds of him being 80 years old. But Senator Mitch has already crossed that age limit. Republicans are in full support of McConnell continuing his leadership duties. One of the prospects to succeed McConnell, Senator John Cornyn of Texas, told the reporters–
“I support Senator McConnell as long as he wants to serve as leader.”
What are your thoughts on Mitch McConnell’s health condition? Do you believe that our political leaders should serve based on age limit?
Let us know in the comments section below.
1 Comment
You should not be able to serve as a federal representative after you’ve reached 72 years of age. House and Senate members should then rely on Medicare and a self-purchased supplemental insurance plan for health care.
If you suffer from a medical condition, elected officials should be required to make their condition public so we the people can decide if you’re capable of accomplishing your responsibilities.