Washington – President Donald Trump’s overall health “is excellent” and he did “exceedingly well” on cognitive screening, the Navy doctor who performed Trump’s first medical checkup said Tuesday.
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Ronny Jackson had issued a blanket declaration that Trump was in “excellent health” after last Friday’s exam, and promised to provide a fuller readout on Tuesday.
He reported that the 6-foot-3 president weighed in at 239 pounds — three pounds heavier than he was in September 2016, the last time Trump revealed his weight to the public.
Trump’s blood pressure was 122 over 74, and his total cholesterol was 223, which is higher than recommended.
Trump was 70 when he took office on Jan. 20, 2017, making him the oldest person ever elected to the presidency.
Trump’s heart exam was normal, with regular rhythm and no abnormal sounds, which Jackson said led him to conclude with confidence that Trump “has a very strong and a very probable possibility of making it completely through his presidency with no medical issues.” Trump has no heart disease and no family history of it.
The 71-year-old president performed “exceedingly well” on cognitive screening, which is not standard but was requested by Trump. The doctor said he had “absolutely no concerns” about Trump’s cognitive abilities. He speculated that Trump requested the exam in an attempt to beat back the narrative of the past few weeks that he is mentally unfit for office.
“He’s very sharp. He’s very articulate when he speaks to me,” Jackson said. “I’ve never known him to repeat himself when he’s around me. I found no reason whatsoever to think the president has any issues whatsoever with his thought process.”
Trump last revealed details about his health two months before the November 2016 election.
Trump’s cholesterol reading from Friday’s exam was borderline high even though he takes a low dose of the statin drug Crestor. Jackson said he would increase that dose in an effort to get Trump’s so-called “bad” cholesterol, or LDL level, below 120; it currently is 143.
Trump’s body mass index, or BMI, of 29.9 puts him in the category of being overweight for his height. A BMI of 30 and over is considered obese.
Jackson said he prescribed a diet lower in fat and carbohydrates, and exercise. He’d like the president to lose 10 to 15 pounds over the next year.
Despite the diet and cholesterol concerns, Jackson stressed that Trump’s “cardiac health is excellent.” He passed a battery of heart exams including a stress test that Jackson said showed an above-average exercise capacity for a man of his age, despite some calcium buildup in his arteries. He also takes a low-dose aspirin for heart health.
With such a bad dietary history, how can that be? Jackson said Trump has avoided some big heart risks — he’s never smoked and isn’t diabetic — and has no family history of heart problems.
Trump did not undergo a psychiatric exam. But in a surprise, Jackson said he did perform a cognitive screening test, at Trump’s request. Called the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, it is designed to detect early signs of memory loss and other neurologic functions — and Trump had a perfect score.
Cognitive assessments aren’t routine in standard physicals, although they recently became covered in Medicare’s annual wellness visits for seniors.
And let the naysayer start nitpikcing again.
Yes facts are we have a very bright president. But wait look at his grammar. Oy vey grammar oh he must be dumb. Because you can” be street smart without proper grammar . And we need an IV league Law professor as president. Because the day to day functions of the WH entail these deep college like intellectual thought processes.
Gimme a break.
Yesterday’s medical briefing,was the most extensive one given, pertaining to any American President’s health in history. When Eisenhower had a massive heart attack in 1955, and later a stroke, there was very little information given out. When Kennedy had Addison’s disease, and other medical problems, that information was kept from the public. LBJ’s heart disease was never discussed in great detail. When Reagan was almost killed in 1981, the public was kept in the dark, about how he almost died. In recent years, not one of the Presidents on both sides of the aisle, released the multitude of medical data, which Trump’s physician released. In fact, it was never reported that Obama smoked well into his first term in office. Also, regarding Laura Bush, she still smoked in the White House. In fact, the Secret Service would be sent to a local convenience store to buy her cigarettes. I have also read that George W. Bush started drinking during his later years in the White House, although the Bushes will deny that. Yes, Trump eats junk food,and is overweight. However, Dr. Jackson stated that he will start him on a treadmill and elliptical. The latter should have been done months ago!