President Obama “remains tobacco free” but still maintains
“occasional use” of nicotine gum, according to an official summary of
his periodic physical exam conducted in May.
Physician to the president Dr. Ronny L. Jackson says Obama’s overall
health is “excellent” and that “all clinical data indicates that the
president is currently healthy and that he will remain so for the
duration of his presidency,” according to a memo released by the White
House.
Obama, 52, still has perfect 20/20 vision. He maintains a healthy
weight of 180 pounds (though he had lost 1.3 pounds since his previous
exam). And his blood pressure remains within the “normal” range, Dr.
Jackson found.
Obama’s cholesterol levels – 213 mg/dl overall – is “borderline high”
under established medical guidelines, however. A jump in his LDL (“bad
cholesterol”) level from 110 mg/dl in 2011 to 137 mg/dl this year puts
him in the “borderline high” category, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The respected medical center suggests most people should aim for an LDL
level below 130.
Obama still copes with a mild case of plantar fasciitis (inflammation
of the thick tissue on the bottom of the foot), the report says.
The only drugs Obama takes is an occasional ibuprofen, daily vitamin D
and malarone (antimalaria medication) when traveling abroad.
