WASHINGTON–President Obama got his first physical as commander-in-chief on Sunday and his Navy doctor said he is “fit for duty.” Obama, 48, is in “excellent health” though he is still struggling to stop cravings for nicotine.
After a routine exam at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, a Washington suburb, Capt. Jeffrey Kuhlman, the Chief White House physician, advised Obama to modify his diet to lower his LDL–known as “bad” cholesterol– and to continue his “smoking cessation efforts.” Obama uses what Kuhlman called “nicotine replacement therapy;” Obama has used nicotine gum to help him quit.
When Obama was considering a White House run, now First Lady Michelle Obama demanded that Obama quit smoking as a condition of her getting behind his 2008 presidential bid. Obama last June, was asked if he still smoked; he said he was “95 percent cured” but “there are times when I mess up.”
The president, who works out and plays basketball and golf, also has some “grind” and wear on his left knee and Kuhlman recommended a “lower extremity muscle strengthening program” to deal with this.
Obama’s health details from his physical exam:
Weight: 179.9 pounds (with shoes and workout attire)
Body Mass Index: 23.7
Resting Heart rate: (seated) 56
Resting blood pressure: (seated) 105/62
Pulse-oximetry: 98% (room air)
Temperature: 97.8 F
Vision: 20/20 both eyes. Mild astigmatism and presbyopia.
Gastriointestinal: Obama took a high-tech screening test, a CT-colonography. His test results were normal. Colonography is less invasive than a colonoscopy and does not involved having to be sedated.
Lipid profile with total cholesterol: 209
Triglycerides: 46
HDL: 62
LDL: 138
VLDL: 9
Total cholesterol to HDL ratio: 3.4
Homocystein: 11.6 and CRP ultrasensitive 0.015.
FBS: 87
PSA: 0.70
Heart: EKG, EBCT, normal.
Click here to read the medical report.
Obama releases medical information: “excellent health.”
By Lynn Sweet on May 29, 2008 10:54 AM
WASHINGTON–Likely Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is in “excellent health,” according to a summary of Obama medical records released on Thursday. The 276-word summary was written by Dr. David L. Scheiner, the Chicago doctor who has been Obama’s personal physician since March, 1987. Obama has not had a check-up in more than a year. Scheiner described Obama as “lean and muscular with no excess body fat.” Obama is still using Nicorette gum to stay off cigarettes–he has quit smoking several times, his doctor notes.
HIghlights:
*Triglycerides of 44(normal under 150), cholesterol 173 (normal under 200), HDL 68 (normal over 40), and LDL 96 (normal under 130). Chem 24, urinalysis and CBC were normal, PSA was 0.6, very good. An EKG was normal.
The Obama campaign decided to release this summary of Obama’s health status at this time to contrast with the long medical history of GOP presumptive nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Az.). The McCain campaign last week allowed a select group of reporters to study McCain’s more complex medical history, complicated because of his skin cancer and injuries suffered while serving in the military and as a prisoner of war in Viet Nam.
click below for full Scheiner letter….
from the Obama campaign….
Below and attached is a letter from Senator Obama’s physician detailing a summary of his health records.
DAVID L. SCHEINER, M.D.
Hyde Park Associates in Medicine, Ltd.
1515 East 52nd Place, Chicago, IL 60615
To Whom It May Concern:
I am David L. Scheiner, a board certified general internist licensed to practice in the State of Illinois. I am on staff at the University of Chicago Hospitals and Rush University Medical Center. I have been Senator Barack Obama’s primary care physician since March 23, 1987. The following is a summary of his medical records for the past 21 years.
During that period of time, Senator Obama has been in excellent health. He has been seen regularly for medical checkups and various minor problems such as upper respiratory infections, skin rashes and minor injuries.
His family history is pertinent for his mother’s death from ovarian cancer and grandfather who died of prostate cancer. His own history included intermittent cigarette smoking. He has quit this practice on several occasions and is currently using Nicorette gum with success.
Senator Obama’s last medical checkup was on January 15, 2007; he had no complaints. He exercised regularly often jogging three miles. His diet was balanced with good intake of roughage and fluids. A complete review of systems was unremarkable. On physical examination, his blood pressure was 90/60 and pulse 60/minute. His build was lean and muscular with no excess body fat. His physical examination was completely normal.
Laboratory studies included triglycerides of 44(normal under 150), cholesterol 173 (normal under 200), HDL 68 (normal over 40), and LDL 96 (normal under 130). Chem 24, urinalysis and CBC were normal, PSA was 0.6, very good. An EKG was normal.
In short, his examination showed him to be in excellent health. Senator Barack Obama is in overall good physical and mental health needed to maintain the resiliency required in the Office of President.
Sincerely,
David L. Scheiner, M.D.