Trump remains in excellent health despite leg swelling, hand bruising, White House memo says
U.S. President Donald Trump remains in excellent health, his physician said in a memo released by the White House on Friday.
It cites results from an examination this week that indicated the 79-year-old continues to experience “slight lower leg swelling” and “benign” hand bruising.
“President Trump remains in excellent health, demonstrating strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and overall physical function,” Dr. Sean Barbabella wrote in the Tuesday memo, adding Trump is “fully fit to carry out all duties of the commander in chief and head of state.”
Trump’s Tuesday visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, his third in 13 months, was closely watched, as in the past year, the White House had to detail several of the president’s health conditions after pictures revealed swollen ankles, bruised hands and a blotchy neck at times.
Shortly after the visit, Trump said “everything checked out perfectly.”
Barbabella’s memo cited Trump’s “slight lower leg swelling … with improvement from last year” and continued hand bruising, described as “common,” “benign” and “consistent with minor soft tissue irritation related to frequent handshaking in the setting of aspirin use for cardiovascular prevention.”
The memo did not address the reason for skin treatment in March on the president’s neck or indicate he underwent another magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam, as he did in October.
WATCH | Trump denies health issues, says he takes large daily Aspirin dose :
Trump denies health issues, says he takes large daily aspirin dose
U.S. President Donald Trump claims he’s in good health and denies having fallen asleep in public meetings. He also says he’s taking a higher daily dose of aspirin to thin his blood than his doctors would like.
Trump, who turns 80 in June and was the oldest person to assume the presidency, frequently casts himself as more energetic and fitter 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 said the president’s overall cardiac function is normal and that “a comprehensive neurological examination demonstrated normal mental status,” including screenings for depression and anxiety.
“Preventive counseling was provided, including guidance on diet, recommendation to take a low-dose Aspirin, increased physical activity and continued weight loss,” the memo said.
Trump is 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 238 pounds, the memo added.
