Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) was admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital after suffering a stroke, a leading cause of disability for adults in the United States.
Murphy, 53, was taken to a local hospital on Sunday, where physicians said he was experiencing a stroke, Allison Herwitt, Murphy’s chief of staff, told reporters.
It is unclear how the event will affect Murphy, who is seen as a possible 2028 presidential candidate and has been active on the campaign trail stumping for fellow Democrats.
Several other senators in Murphy’s age bracket in recent years have suffered from strokes and have continued to serve in the legislature after recovery.
Herwitt said the senator was transferred to Johns Hopkins Hospital on Sunday and is “responding well to treatment.”
“The doctors are encouraged by his progress, he is awake and alert, and we are optimistic he will make a full recovery,” Herwitt said.
Here’s everything to know:
What do we know about Murphy’s stroke?
Herwitt said Murphy was taken to a local hospital after “experiencing numbness in his arm while at his son’s hockey game.”
Dr. Tom Pitts, a board-certified neurologist not involved in Murphy’s care, told NewsNation on Monday that the reported localized symptom makes him think the stroke was in a localized part of the brain.
“When I hear just the arm, I start to think of a small vessel stroke in progress, either a blockage of a vessel, a bleed, or not enough blood getting to the brain,” Pitts said.
When asked if the stress of Murphy’s campaign activities could have contributed to the event, Pitts said, “There’s no doubt that it can compound the risk.”
He added that, in his experience as a physician, most stroke patients do not die if the incident is detected quickly, but a stroke can leave lifelong impairments.
“When I’m on a stroke service, most people don’t pass away, you know, in that setting,” Pitts said. “We tend to see it be the No. 1 cause of disability, and that remains to be seen.”
What are common risk factors and consequences of strokes?
A variety of medical conditions and lifestyle factors can increase the risk of stroke.
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity are all leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease, increasing both risk of stroke and heart attack. Behavioral factors include poor diet, lack of physical activity, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking.
Pitts said that, if he were treating Murphy, he would examine other less common causes of stroke, such as sleep apnea, heart arrhythmia, or blood clotting disorders, because of Murphy’s age.
He added that he hopes Murphy will be sent home with a heart monitor to identify any irregularities.
“Being that he’s 53, I would expand that workup,” Pitts said.
What other senators have faced similar challenges?
There have been other cases of senators in their 50s suffering from strokes and going on to serve in Congress despite physical limitations.
Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) suffered a stroke in the cerebellum region of his brain in February 2022 at the age of 49. He underwent brain surgery and was absent from the Senate for several weeks.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) survived a near-fatal stroke on the campaign trail in 2022 at age 52 caused by atrial fibrillation, the most common cause of irregular heart rhythm. Fetterman was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation in 2017.
Fetterman extended his well wishes to Murphy following the news, saying he understands “all too well how much this impacts your life.”
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The late former Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) suffered a stroke at age 59 in December 2006 while on a live radio interview with journalists. The stroke was caused by a congenital defect in the brain that caused bleeding.
Johnson returned to the Senate in September 2007 with paralysis on his right side and using a scooter. He retired from public office in 2015 and died following another stroke in 2024 at age 77.