Jason Rossi
If you close your eyes and envision someone who is the picture of health, you might see Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson or another physically fit person. Ronny Jackson might picture President Donald Trump. When he served as Trump’s physician in the White House, Jackson performed a physical and said the president was in excellent health at the time. However, some doctors speculate Donald Trump has heart disease, and this is why.
What the White House physician said about Donald Trump’s health
Does Donald Trump have heart disease? Not according to the White House physician. | Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
Ronny Jackson proclaimed Trump to be in excellent physical and mental health when he performed his exam in 2018.
On the mental side of things, Jackson “found no evidence that the president has any issues whatsoever with his thought process,” according to NPR.
Physically, Jackson proclaimed Trump might have a chance to push for a 200th birthday if only he took focused on a better diet and exercise. “It’s called genetics,” Jackson said. “Some people just have great genes.”
Why doctors believe Trump has heart disease
Jackson claimed Trump to be as healthy as someone half his age, but other doctors aren’t so sure.
The cholesterol levels and body mass index aren’t good signs. | Donald Trump via Twitter
Trump already takes medication to control his cholesterol levels, and he also takes baby aspirin to help his heart health. He also prefers fast food, and the salt and oil aren’t helping his health. Some other results from Trump’s physical point to heart disease.
His coronary calcium level, taken from a CT scan, hit 133, and anything over 100 indicates heart disease, according to CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
Trump’s LDL cholesterol level is 143, which is far above the ideal level (100), according to the Independent.
His height (6-foot-3) and weight (239 pounds) give him a body mass index of 29.9. That’s considered overweight and verging on obese, based on the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute’s body mass calculator.
What is heart disease?
Heart disease is very common in the United States. | iStock
Heart disease is a serious health problem, but the term is a catchall for several health issues. Arrhythmias, congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, and cardiovascular disease (narrowed or blocked blood vessels) all fall under the heart disease umbrella, according to Mayo Clinic.
Fatigue, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, numbness in your extremities, and dizziness are a few signs of heart disease.
Why the doctors might be wrong
Yes, Donald Trump’s fondness for fast food isn’t helping his heart. The lack of exercise isn’t good either, but the combination doesn’t guarantee Donald Trump has heart disease.
The flip side to Trump’s poor diet and exercise routine is that he doesn’t drink alcohol and he never smokes. Both of those habits are terrible for your health.
Trump’s parents enjoyed long lives
Fred and Donald Trump. | Global TV via Youtube
It’s true that Donald Trump’s poor diet and lack of exercise set him up for heart disease, but Jackson might have been on to something with his genetics comment.
Donald Trump’s mother, Mary Anne Trump, had osteoporosis, but she lived to be 88. His father, Fred Trump, lived to be 93 despite his health problems later in life.
Other presidents hid their health problems
The doctors, other than the White House physician, say Donald Trump has heart disease, but that’s not unusual. It’s the leading cause of death for men in the U.S., according to the CDC. Plus, many presidents have health issues they try to hide.
We all know Franklin D. Roosevelt had polio, but George H.W. Bush had multiple problems, Chester A. Arthur battled kidney disease, and Dwight D. Eisenhower hid his heart attack. Other presidents had health problems they tried to keep secret.
Ronny Jackson giving a clean bill of health despite Donald Trump’s apparent heart disease isn’t anything new. Almost every doctor who’s treated the Commander in Chief over the years has lied about the president’s health.
Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook!
