Donald Trump's annual medical exam raises red flag as he's forced by doctor to make major lifestyle change
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, Health, US News
Rhianna Benson
Featured Image Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, Health, US News
The results of Donald Trump's latest annual medical check are in - and apparently, he's been assigned some homework.
Captain Sean Barbabella, the president's personal physician, wrote a memo released by White House leaders on Friday (29 May) ahead of Trump's 80th birthday later this month.
After the politician's visit to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre on Tuesday for his yearly check-up, Barbabella alleged the 79-year-old has 'strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and overall physical function'.
His resting heart rate was recorded as 73 beats per minute, allegedly making his cardiac age equal to that of a person 14 years younger.
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The memo also alleged that Trump had scored 30 out of 30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and was therefore 'within normal limits'.
Barbabella insisted, therefore, that Trump is 'fully fit to carry out all duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State', and is, overall, in 'excellent health'.
Despite this, the doctor did discuss one major area of concern - Trump's weight.
According to the memo, the Republican frontman currently weighs 238 lb (108 kg). For comparison, he weighed 14 lb (6.3 kg) less last year.
Addressing the right-wing leader's weight gain, Barbabella admitted to having given Trump guidance on amending his diet and incorporating more physical activity into his day-to-day routine.
The medic also claimed Trump had been prescribed medication to control his cholesterol levels.
Barbabella wrote: "Preventive counselling was provided, including guidance on diet, recommendation to take a low-dose aspirin, increased physical activity, and continued weight loss."
Following the write-up, Trump took to Truth Social to celebrate everything supposedly having 'checked out perfectly'.
He wrote online: "Just finished my 6 month physical at Walter Reed Military Medical Center. Everything checked out PERFECTLY. Thank you to the great Doctors and Staff!"
Barbabella's remarks contradicted recent concerns raised over an obscure bruise that sporadically appears on the back of Trump's hands, a neck rash often spotted in public, and swollen ankles.
The latter condition, Trump's team claimed last year, is a side effect of his chronic venous insufficiency diagnosis, which he received last July. Lower leg swelling occurs when leg veins fail to pump blood to the heart, causing it to pool below.
Barbabella added that, while there's still 'slight lower leg swelling', there's 'improvement from last year'.
Addressing the bruising, the doctor and former US Navy captain, who joined the Trump administration upon his inauguration last January, claimed this blemish was 'consistent with minor soft tissue irritation related to frequent handshaking' for someone taking aspirin for 'cardiovascular prevention'.
He claimed these marks were 'a common and benign effect of aspirin therapy'.