Since Taking Office Obama’s Cholesterol And Blood Pressure Have Increased

President Barack Obama
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President Obama has chronic tendinitis and his cholesterol has increased, according to his first presidential physical exam performed yesterday at Bethesda Naval Medical Center.

The bottom line is Obama, 48, is “fit for duty,” Chief White House Physician Dr. Jeff Kuhlman wrote in his report. But Obama’s overall cholesterol of 209 needs to come down, Kuhlman wrote.

That’s up from overall cholesterol of 173 in spring 2008. Obama’s other cholesterol stats: 46 Triglycerides, 62 HDL and 138 LDL. Kuhlman recommended a healthier diet to reduce the LDL number to below 130.

Obama’s blood pressure yesterday was normal at 105 over 62. His resting pulse was 56. In Spring 2008 the blood pressure was normal at 90 over 60 and his pulse was 60 beats per minute. Former President George W. Bush had a resting heart rate of 45 beats per minute, similar to a top athelete.

Kuhlman also noted that Obama sometimes uses anti-inflammatory medication for “left patella-femoral pain secondary to chronic tendinitis” and suggested he do muscle strengthening.

Obama, who maintains a daily workout routine and often plays basketball on the court he installed near the White House South Lawn, weighs 179.9 fully clothed, according to the doctor. Obama has 20/20 vision.

Read the detailed physical examination here.

It’s the first checkup Obama has publicly released since his May 2008 physical with Dr. David Scheiner of Chicago, who was his family doctor since 1987.

At the time, as the Democratic primary was wrapping up, Scheiner declared Obama was in the “excellent health” that’s needed “to maintain the resiliency required in the office of president.”

The 2008 doctor’s letter noted Obama had given up smoking and “is currently using Nicorette gum with success,” but yesterday’s physical advised Obama “continue smoking cessation efforts.” It also took note of his mother’s death from ovarian cancer and his grandfather’s death from prostate cancer. His physical yesterday include a prostate exam.
The doctor said Obama should get his next physical in summer 2011 when he turns 50.

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