Reuters – , remains in excellent health, his doctor said in a memo released by the White House on Friday, citing the results of an examination carried out this week that indicated that the 79-year-old president continues to have ‘slight swelling of the lower leg’ and ‘benign’ bruising on his hands.
“President Trump continues to be in excellent health, demonstrating strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and overall physical function,” Dr. Sean Barbabella wrote in Tuesday’s memo, released late night Friday, adding that Trump is “fully capable of performing all roles of commander in chief and head of state.”
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Trump’s visit Tuesday to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, his third in 13 months, was closely watched, as last year the White House had to detail several of the president’s health conditions after photos revealed sometimes swollen ankles, bruised hands and a blotchy neck.
Shortly after the visit, Trump said “everything checked out perfectly.”
Barbabella’s memo cited ‘mild swelling of the lower leg…with improvement over the past year’ and ongoing bruising on Trump’s hands, described as ‘common’, ‘benign’ and ‘consistent with minor soft tissue irritation related to frequent hand shaking in the context of aspirin use for cardiovascular prevention.’
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The memo did not address the reason for the skin treatment on the president’s neck in March and did not indicate that he underwent another MRI exam, as he did in October.
Trump, who will turn 80 in June and was the oldest person to hold the U.S. presidency, often portrays himself as more energetic and fit than Joe Biden, his Democratic predecessor, who left office last year at age 82 after facing questions about his fitness for the job.
Friday’s memo says the president’s overall cardiac function is normal and that “a comprehensive neurological examination demonstrated normal mental status,” including tests for depression and anxiety.
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“Preventive counseling was provided, including guidance on diet, recommendation to take a low dose of aspirin, increased physical activity and continued weight loss,” the memo says.
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Trump is 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 225 pounds, the memo added.
(Reporting by Bo Erickson in Washington and Disha Mishra in Bengaluru)
