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left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)
Fri Nov 19, 2021, 06:51 PM Nov 2021

Biden's doctor says he's fit for office after annual physical

Source: The Hill

President Biden’s physician on Friday determined he was healthy and fit to execute the duties of the presidency following his annual physical the day before his 79th birthday. Biden visited Walter Reed Medical Center for a colonoscopy and a routine check-up. Kevin O’Connor, physician to the president, broadly determined Biden to be in good health, but noted that the president was clearing his throat more frequently and walking with a stiffer gait.

“President Biden remains a healthy, vigorous, 78-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, to include those as Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander in Chief,” O’Connor wrote in a six-page summary of Biden’s physical.

O’Connor highlighted two areas that he said warranted further investigation — specifically Biden’s recent “throat clearing” and what he described as a stiffened gait. “The President’s gait appears to be perceptibly stiffer and less fluid than it has been in the past. He does specifically acknowledge early morning stiffness that improves throughout the day,” the doctor said. O'Connor noted Biden’s broken foot he suffered roughly a year ago could contribute to the awkward walk, but he more broadly assessed Biden was dealing with spinal arthritis and “peripheral neuropathy,” meaning some loss of sensation in the feet.

O’Connor also wrote that Biden is experiencing “throat clearing” with “increasing frequency and severity” and said that he attributed it to a digestive disorder known as gastroesophageal reflux, or GERD. “President Biden experiences occasional symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, primarily having to clear his throat more often. This may also contribute to occasional cough and sinus congestion. His symptoms are typically exacerbated shortly after meals,” he wrote.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/582436-bidens-doctor-says-hes-fit-for-office-after-annual-physical



Biden underwent a colonoscopy on Friday morning, during which doctors removed a benign polyp but otherwise found no cause for concern. Biden transferred power to Vice President Harris for 85 minutes while under anesthesia for the procedure, just as then-President George W. Bush did when he got a colonoscopy in 2002 and 2007.

Biden weighed 184 pounds, putting him at a Body Mass Index of 25.0, which is just on the edge of the overweight category. His blood pressure was 120/70.

The president takes five medications, O’Connor wrote, including Crestor to address high cholesterol; Dymista nasal spray for allergies; Allegra for allergies; Eliquis as a blood thinner; and Pepcid to treat GERD.
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Biden's doctor says he's fit for office after annual physical (Original Post) left-of-center2012 Nov 2021 OP
And... True Dough Nov 2021 #1
"Biden weighed 184 pounds" left-of-center2012 Nov 2021 #2
The most fit President ever Traildogbob Nov 2021 #4
On the edge of overweight? He looks slim (and healthy) to me. spooky3 Nov 2021 #3
He looks slim to me, too Diamond_Dog Nov 2021 #5
Same here Rebl2 Nov 2021 #16
Yeah, that struck me as odd PatSeg Nov 2021 #6
+1 peppertree Nov 2021 #7
Because people don't have eyes to see! PatSeg Nov 2021 #22
The BMI scale is a little unrealistic. oldsoftie Nov 2021 #8
Online there is a BMI calculator that takes age into account. spooky3 Nov 2021 #10
He is slim. Haggard Celine Nov 2021 #9
No shit. And we wouldn't even notice it. Mr. Evil Nov 2021 #14
Agreed, he certainly looks slim to me. Talitha Nov 2021 #15
If Biden is "almost" overweight at 184 what is Trump at 260? Bengus81 Nov 2021 #23
The current body-mass index is a little unrealistic. Aristus Nov 2021 #24
On a day in which JRB had a physical AND a colonoscopy, Totally Tunsie Nov 2021 #11
Missed the Rebl2 Nov 2021 #17
Here it is MustLoveBeagles Nov 2021 #21
No operating machinery or driving for 24 hours. ProudMNDemocrat Nov 2021 #12
A couple off pillows and blocks under the headboard of the bed is the fix for Reflux.. Historic NY Nov 2021 #13
When Trump had his colonoscopy nwduke Nov 2021 #18
you mean a cancerous polyp RussBLib Nov 2021 #19
nwduke, BlueSky3 Nov 2021 #20

peppertree

(21,639 posts)
7. +1
Fri Nov 19, 2021, 07:05 PM
Nov 2021

I can just hear Faux News: "President borderline overweight, his own doctors say!!!"

But Fatsolini? "Fittest ever!"

PatSeg

(47,501 posts)
22. Because people don't have eyes to see!
Sat Nov 20, 2021, 09:41 AM
Nov 2021

I still find the crap that came out of his mouth unbelievable.

oldsoftie

(12,558 posts)
8. The BMI scale is a little unrealistic.
Fri Nov 19, 2021, 07:05 PM
Nov 2021

I'm 6' 185 and thats as big as i'm "supposed" to get. Everyone i know thinks i'm skinny

spooky3

(34,460 posts)
10. Online there is a BMI calculator that takes age into account.
Fri Nov 19, 2021, 07:09 PM
Nov 2021

On that measure, the President and you would not be deemed overweight.

Allegedly it is based on research showing that people carrying a little more weight as they age aren’t more likely than slimmer peers to suffer negative health consequences.

Talitha

(6,593 posts)
15. Agreed, he certainly looks slim to me.
Fri Nov 19, 2021, 08:13 PM
Nov 2021

And I've heard the camera 'puts' 10 pounds on you.
So in person, he probably looks even slimmer than what we see.

Bengus81

(6,931 posts)
23. If Biden is "almost" overweight at 184 what is Trump at 260?
Sat Nov 20, 2021, 04:37 PM
Nov 2021

Or wait,didn't his physical say he was like 220 or less?




Aristus

(66,388 posts)
24. The current body-mass index is a little unrealistic.
Sat Nov 20, 2021, 07:51 PM
Nov 2021

Even as a medical clinician, I can see that.

I wish the BMI guys would take the clinical medicine point of view: "When all else fails, look at the patient." I know without having to be told who is fit, who is overweight, who is obese, and who is morbidly obese.

Totally Tunsie

(10,885 posts)
11. On a day in which JRB had a physical AND a colonoscopy,
Fri Nov 19, 2021, 07:16 PM
Nov 2021

he still had the stamina and energy to make a public appearance when pardoning Peanut Butter and Jelly. I think most of us would have gone home to bed for the rest of the day.

MustLoveBeagles

(11,612 posts)
21. Here it is
Fri Nov 19, 2021, 11:06 PM
Nov 2021

?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1461800508482637825%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.democraticunderground.com%2F100216069105

ProudMNDemocrat

(16,786 posts)
12. No operating machinery or driving for 24 hours.
Fri Nov 19, 2021, 07:29 PM
Nov 2021

After such a procedure. I was s tad woozy, but totally chilled for the rest of the day after mine in March. Had the upper snd lower done. Don't remember a thing about it.

Historic NY

(37,451 posts)
13. A couple off pillows and blocks under the headboard of the bed is the fix for Reflux..
Fri Nov 19, 2021, 07:48 PM
Nov 2021

Even in the old days people experienced it, the found an incline to help them with the "bad vapors". It was a typical thing to see in old barracks building and some of the Forts. the incline.

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