Admittedly, former President Donald Trump has come under fire for several health-related gaffes lately that have caught the eyes of the public. In a candid conversation, he revealed details about his health management, including his daily aspirin regimen, his experiences with medical imaging, and the visible bruising on his hands, which he attributes to his lifestyle choices.
During the debate in July, very astute observers observed that you could see a big patch of makeup on Trump’s right hand. It even served to amplify the bruising he’s taken. Doctors assured him it was only minor soft tissue irritation from shaking so many hands and his daily aspirin regimen. Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, proclaimed that Trump was in “excellent shape.” This announcement comes on the heels of an unannounced house call at Walter Reed Medical Center last month last October.
Health Check-Up and Imaging
To compare, last October, Trump underwent a battery of advanced imaging on his heart and abdomen. This is in direct opposition to previous reports that stated he got an MRI taken. As Dr. Barbabella verified, a CT scan was indeed performed during Trump’s visit. This scan would eventually lead to a diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition in older adults.
Regardless of the medical evaluation, Trump tweeted that he was “sorry I made… go through the stupid imaging test.” He remarked, “In retrospect, it’s too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition.” Yet, this comment belies his understanding that these kinds of health disclosures will further incite the ire of his opposition’s critics.
Daily Health Regimen
In his recent public discussion of his health regimen, Trump admitted to taking 325 milligrams of aspirin daily. He explained his reasoning for this choice, saying, “They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart. I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?”
After a quarter of a century on this same prescription, Trump has just made an increase. He instituted this change because of a premonition regarding his eventual illness. To little avail, he took a stab at using compression socks to reduce swelling in his left leg. Personally, I found them quite uncomfortable and to quote him, “I just don’t like it. It’s boring.”
Lifestyle Choices and Criticism
Given all of that, it’s no surprise that Trump’s health habits have become a topic of fascination. He openly admitted to not being interested in traditional exercise routines, stating, “To walk on a treadmill or run on a treadmill for hours and hours like some people do, that’s not for me.” Rather than use transit or active modes for daily trips, he makes golf his main physical activity.
The former president even denounced media depictions of his behavior at rallies and other public events. He rejected claims he has ever slept on duty and explained photos of him blinking as the result of bad photography. “Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink,” he remarked.
