When did it become a thing to withhold information from presidential check-ups?

[Baitball Blogger]

This was the kind of information that was once compulsory. Now, we're only learning that we elected a president to office that has been abusing aspirin for 25 years.

Everything about this presidency and this era in America seems backwards.

[Blues Heron]

1. Once the coup happened, everything changed.

[RockRaven]

2. Jan 2017

[PatSeg]

3. I know, it is pretty unsettling

For so many years, I thought that things we took for granted were actual laws, but turns out they were traditions that previous presidents would not violate as if they WERE laws. They were treated with respect as a sacred trust.

There were some things that presidents just did not do even if they might be tempted. They knew the American people would never tolerate it, at least until Trump who somehow gets free rein in pretty much every situation.

I'm going to go watch a couple episodes of The West Wing to get a dose of sanity.

[UTUSN]

4. Uh, since no tax info in '16?

[Ms. Toad]

5. Aspirin is an OTC medication.

Last edited Fri Jan 2, 2026, 09:06 PM - Edit history (1)

People are way too freaked out about a use (325 mg) that is well below the maximum daily limits (3900 mg) for a medication anyone in the US can buy without a prescription.

[Timewas]

6. Daily Aspirin

My Dr has had me on a full aspirin daily for about 15 years, just recently after having a stroke changed it to Plavix.

On edit: I am 84 yo.and have had several blocked artery surgeries.

[Ms. Toad]

8. I've been on a far higher dose (or equivalent does)

Aspirin, ibuprofen, and naprosyn at various times in my life both for clotting reasons (structural DVT), and calming inflammation.

This is literally a mountain out of a molehill situation.

[Disaffected]

13. The issue is not the dosage but

the long term usage.

[Ms. Toad]

15. As I indicated

I've been on long term doses larger than 325 mg, and even larger in the equivalent dosage of other NSAIDS (ibuprofen and Naprosyn) on at least 3 separate occasions.

It really isn't that big of a deal. Yes it can cause problems. Yes, you should be following your doctors recommendations. But many people can tolerate a daily full-strength aspirin for years.

You'd think no one around here has any experience with aspirin.

[Disaffected]

17. Isn't that big a deal?

Daily 325 mg aspirin (full-strength aspirin) taken long term is associated with several well-established risks, particularly when used for months or years. The balance of benefit versus harm depends heavily on why it is being taken and on individual risk factors.

1. Gastrointestinal (GI) effects — most common and most significant

Risk increases with duration, dose, age, and concurrent medications.

Gastritis and stomach irritation

Peptic ulcers (stomach or duodenal)

GI bleeding (may be occult or life-threatening)

Iron-deficiency anemia from chronic blood loss

Warning signs:

Black or tarry stools

Vomiting blood or coffee-ground material

Persistent stomach pain


2. Bleeding risk (systemic)

Aspirin irreversibly inhibits platelet function.

Increased risk of internal bleeding (GI, intracranial)

Easy bruising

Nosebleeds or prolonged bleeding from cuts

Increased surgical and dental bleeding risk

Intracranial hemorrhage, while uncommon, is a serious concern with long-term daily use.


3. Cardiovascular considerations

Aspirin reduces clotting, which can be beneficial in some high-risk adults

However, long-term 325 mg daily increases bleeding risk without added benefit over low-dose aspirin for most preventive indications

Modern guidelines generally discourage routine aspirin use for primary prevention unless risk is clearly elevated


4. Kidney effects (with long-term use)

More likely in dehydration, older age, or kidney disease.

Reduced kidney function

Fluid retention

Worsening of existing kidney disease


5. Hearing and neurologic effects (salicylate toxicity)

Usually dose-related, but can occur chronically:

Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

Hearing loss (usually reversible if caught early)

Dizziness or confusion at higher blood levels


6. Asthma and allergy-related reactions

In susceptible individuals:

Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD)

Bronchospasm or asthma attacks

Hives or angioedema


7. Liver effects (rare but possible)

Elevated liver enzymes

Liver injury with prolonged high exposure

8. Important age-related warning (critical)

Aspirin is generally contraindicated in children and teenagers due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a rare but severe condition causing liver failure and brain swelling, especially during viral illnesses.

Summary risk profile

Long-term daily 325 mg aspirin is associated with:

High GI bleeding risk

Increased overall bleeding risk

Minimal added benefit over low-dose aspirin in most use cases

Not appropriate for routine use without medical supervision.

[Ms. Toad]

20. I'm not saying what he is doing is medically appropriate.

But what you cited are risks of side effects. Every medication has such risks. You take the medication hoping the benefits outweigh the risks.

The medical community has decided that the benefits of taking 325 mg of aspirin, rather than 81 mg don't outweigh the added risks of the increased dose. They have also now decided the risks of taking even the lower dose outweigh the benefits for elderly individuals - after recommending it for decades. All of those risks, by the way, exist even if he was taking just a baby aspirin, which is who the medical community has decided it isn't appropriate for elderly individuals to take even a baby aspirin a day.

But having risk of side effects doesn't mean those side effects are certainties. Generally, the risks will only materialize in only a small portion of people taking the medication. I've personally taken 325 mg, or more, of aspirin daily - on doctors orders - for a period of years. (As well as two other NSAIDS with similar risk profiles.) I had to stop one of them after it caused GI ulcers - but it wasn't aspirin, AND the dose I was taking was more than the recommended daily OTC dose (per the doctors prescription). I had zero side effects from the aspirin, and stopped it when the doctor determined I no longer needed it.

So what Trump is doing is stupid - but in the same realm of stupid as anyone else who isn't following doctors orders to cut down on sweets, for example. It's not a certain recipe for medical disaster, in the way overdosing on acetaminophen is (catastrophic liver failure), or the way injecting bleach would be.

[Johonny]

7. Has Woodrow Wilson entered the chat?

Like since forever...

[mr715]

9. About when...

It became typical to have presidential physicals on a biweekly basis.

[Kaleva]

10. Most Americans didn't know that FDR couldn't walk at all

JFK was plagued by numerous health problems that was hidden from the public.

[Baitball Blogger]

11. Chris Matthews insisted that this wasn't true.

It might have been one of the myths that they forced on us. Like what they did to create the Thanksgiving tradition.

[mr715]

12. Chris Matthews believes many myths himself. nt

[Baitball Blogger]

14. Don't doubt it.

His bromance with Bush prior to the 2000 election creeped me out.

[Kaleva]

16. From an ABC News article

“Nov. 18, 2002 -- President John F. Kennedy's medical records reveal that he had suffered health problems since childhood, and used an arsenal of drugs, including painkillers and stimulants, to treat various medical conditions during his presidency.

A historian who examined his medical records was stunned at the extent of the health problems that the seemingly vigorous president dealt with.“

“Hiding the Pain

But Kennedy and his closest circle took great pains to hide his health problems from the public, fearing it would impair his political career. JFK was particularly fearful that revelations about his health problems would hurt him in the neck-and-neck presidential race with Richard Nixon in 1960.

He was so terrified of his medical conditions being known that in the 1960 fight for the Democratic nomination, Lyndon Johnson aides aired the fact that Kennedy had Addison's disease, and the Kennedy campaign flatly denied it, Dallek said. His doctors later published a letter saying his health was excellent.”

https://abcnews.go.com/amp/GMA/story?id=125593&page=1

[Baitball Blogger]

19. That is pretty damning.

But, do you think Kennedy would have won a neck to neck campaign if he had a personal history of greed and incompetence as bad as Trump's?

[SocialDemocrat61]

18. During the FDR administration. Lol