Doctor Zebra > Presidential health > Other notables > Historical figures
	Health & Medical History of Osama bin Laden

Vital Statistics

• Bin Laden was born on March 10, 1957 [1a] .

• A journalist who met bin Laden in the 1990s described him as 6 feet 4 inches in height and "lithe and muscular" [2].
• His beard has been streaked with white since around January 2000 (at least), when he was described as "visibly aged" [1b] .

• A slim biography, published in Egypt in 1991 reported that about 1987 bin Laden had health problems that:

  forced him to lie down intermittently for hours at a time. He suffered from low blood pressure, which was treated by an Egyptian doctor from Peshawar, and diabetes, for which he received insulin shots. [1c]

Comment: Being "forced to lie down" could be a result of hypotension, autonomic dysfunction, or some other cause of weakness. It could also be a sign of pathological sleepiness (see below). Autonomic dysfunction can be a complication of diabetes.

• "The CIA has determined that bin Laden has an enlarged heart and chronically low blood pressure" [3].

• On Dec. 8, 1998, NBC News reported that bin Laden had only "months to live," explaining that he was suffering from heart problems and possibly cancer [1d] . Oops.

• "At one point, medical analysts thought bin Laden was a 'bit of a hypochondriac,' said one former official, noting that the United States had heard of his constant health complaints. That profile, said one of the officials, was developed with the aid of defectors from al-Qaida [sic] as well as foreign intelligence services, bin Laden family members and U.S. technical intelligence." [3]
• Of his experience fighting the Soviets, bin Laden has said:

  Once I was only thirty meters from the Russians and they were trying to capture me. I was under bombardment, but I was so peaceful in my heart that I fell asleep. [1e]

  Comment: This may be related to the condition that "forces him to lie down" (see above). If not due to disease, sleeping in such conditions is even more startling than Gordon Cooper's famous nap-before-liftoff.

• "Based on an analysis of the breathing and speaking patterns Osama bin Laden exhibited in a videotape released in December [2001], Western intelligence officers believe he had suffered a severe chest wound but survived a U.S. air and ground assault in eastern Afghanistan" [4].
• Bin Laden is missing two toes "from a war wound suffered in Afghanistan fighting the Soviet Union" [3]. A short 1991 Egyptian biography of bin Laden shows a picture of him tending a wound in his foot about 1987 [1c] .
• Several video segments show bin Laden walking with the aid of a stick [2], but the reason for this is unclear.
• A short 1991 Egyptian biography of bin Laden shows a picture of him getting a shot after being exposed to "poisonous gas" about 1987 [1c] . Dr. Zebra supposes this occurred while fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan.

• A slim biography, published in Egypt in 1991 reported that about 1987 bin Laden had diabetes, for which he received insulin shots [1c] .
• According to Time Magazine (July 1, 2002) "physicians who analyzed photos of bin Laden determined that he probably suffers from secondary osteoporosis, which is often related to diabetes and kidney trouble" [5].

• There have been reports that bin Laden requires dialysis because of kidney disease [6].

• The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency has concluded that bin Laden does not need dialysis, but does suffer from kidney stones [3].
• A journalist who visited bin Laden's camp in the 1990s reported camp members saying that bin Laden had a kidney problem requiring him to drink large amounts of water. The journalist witnessed bin Laden constantly sipping water and green tea in the time they spent together [2].
• On July 1, 2002, Time Magazine "reported that physicians who analyzed photos of bin Laden determined that he probably suffers from secondary osteoporosis, which is often related to diabetes and kidney trouble" [5].
• Comment: Renal failure can be a complication of diabetes (which he may or may not have -- see above). Interestingly, occasional persons may have their diabetes improve after renal failure occurs, because insulin is retained longer in the body when kidney function is impaired.

• Bin Laden is 6 feet 4 inches tall, as noted above.
• There is an often-repeated statement, not "supported by firm evidence," that bin Laden has Marfan syndrome, e.g. [7].

[Persons with Marfan syndrome are classically tall and thin. They are generally not muscular, but there are exceptions, e.g. the occasional college basketball player that proves to have the condition.]

• On July 1, 2002, Time Magazine "reported that physicians who analyzed photos of bin Laden determined that he probably suffers from secondary osteoporosis, which is often related to diabetes and kidney trouble" [5].

1. Bergen, Peter L. Holy War, Inc.: Inside the Secret World of Osama bin Laden. New York: Free Press, 2001. ISBN 0-7432-0502-2 @ Amazon [a] p. 44 [b] p. 185 [c] p. 57 [d] p. 32 [e] pp. 122-123



2. Frontline television show. "Meeting Osama bin Laden." Public Broadcasting Service. KCSM-TV. 5 April 2005.



3. Robert Windrem. "CIA is looking for a few good doctors." NBC News, Dec. 29, 2004.
       At: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6765861/



4. Susan Schmidt and Douglas Farah. "Al Qaeda's New Leaders." Washington Post. October 29, 2002; Page A01.



5. Anonymous. "Bin Laden Alive as of Late December Report." Reuters; Sun Jun 30, 2002; 2:11 PM ET.



6. Rohan Gunaratna. "[interview]." Charlie Rose television show. KQED-TV. July 14, 2004.



7. Barton Gellman and Thomas E. Ricks. "U.S. Concludes Bin Laden Escaped at Tora Bora Fight." Washington Post. April 17, 2002; Page A01.