What you need to know
A summary of President Donald Trump’s latest medical exam revealed that the 79-year-old had undergone additional cardiovascular tests and was up to date on vaccinations.
President Trump, 79, visited Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday, Oct. 10, to address troops and undergo what White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt described as “a routine annual checkup,” despite previously announcing that he had already completed his annual physical.
On Friday night, White House physician Sean Barbavera outlined the testing in a statement shared with PEOPLE.
In a statement, Barbabella shared that the president’s visit was “part of an ongoing wellness plan” and included laboratory tests, advanced imaging tests, and “preventive health assessments.”
He said President Trump underwent testing to “ensure optimal cardiovascular health and continued health.”
Barbavera did not elaborate on the imaging tests or “precautionary evaluations” that were performed, but added that Trump’s test results were “exceptional” and that his heart age is “approximately 14 years younger than his chronological age.” According to the Heart Foundation, heart age is a measure of a person’s cardiovascular health and heart attack risk compared to their chronological age.
In addition to the tests and imaging tests, Trump also received the latest flu and COVID-19 vaccines, according to a letter seen by PEOPLE.
“President Donald J. Trump is in excellent health, demonstrating excellent cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological and physical performance,” Barbavera said in a summary of the letter.
The White House physician also said that President Trump “continues to maintain a grueling daily schedule without restrictions.”
Much has been made of the US president’s annual physical examination, which is traditionally followed by a health report from the White House physician that is shared with the public. The practice, which dates back to the Richard Nixon era, is meant to promote transparency and reaffirm confidence in the president’s abilities, but it has become an increasingly political process with recent presidents, where age has become a top concern.
Mr Trump, the oldest American to be elected president, had already undergone his annual medical examination in April, after which a new doctor determined he was “completely fit” to serve as president.
Barbabella concluded in April that “President Trump is in good health, with good cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and general physical function.”
As the Trump administration faced bipartisan backlash over its handling of the Epstein file and the White House descended into chaos in July, the president made an unscheduled return visit to his doctor to investigate the cause of swelling in his lower legs.
Dr. Barbabella’s memo, shared on July 17, said President Trump underwent a “thorough exam” as a precaution and was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, which the doctor described as “a benign and common condition, especially seen in people over 70.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a type of venous disease that occurs when the veins in the legs are damaged. As a result, these veins can no longer manage blood flow properly, making it difficult for blood in the legs to return to the heart. CVI causes blood to pool in the leg veins, causing high blood pressure in the veins.”
Barbabella insisted at the time that despite Trump’s new diagnosis, “the president remains in good health.”
Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty. Mandel NGAN/AFP (via Getty)
President Trump also made headlines for a recurring birthmark on his right hand that sparked widespread speculation online, but he frequently tries to cover it up with makeup.
“President Trump has bruises on his hands because he goes to work every day and shakes hands all day long,” Leavitt told reporters when asked about the bruises after the photo first went viral in February.
Barbabella addressed the bruise more formally in July, saying it was “consistent with mild soft tissue inflammation from frequent shaking hands and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of standard cardiovascular prevention therapy.”
