Obama in excellent health, doctor says, but he should quit smoking

WASHINGTON — President Obama is fit as a fiddle, but he should lower his cholesterol and kick his smoking habit.

That was the opinion of White House physician Jeffrey Kuhlman on Sunday after Obama’s first routine physical examination since becoming president.

The 90-minute exam, conducted at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., found the 48-year-old Obama was in “excellent health” and “fit for duty.”

The doctor said Obama did not need to return for another routine exam until August 2011, after he turns 50.

Although Obama has cut back on cigarettes, he has
not quit and the doctor recommended he “continue smoking cessation
efforts,” including nicotine gum.

And although Obama generally eats well, the doctor said his cholesterol had risen significantly since his last exam in July 2008.
His LDL, or bad cholesterol, was higher at 138, from 96, with 130
considered borderline high. His HDL, or good cholesterol, had dropped
to 62 from 68. And his total cholesterol had risen to 209 — also
borderline high. It had been 173 in his last exam.

At 6-feet-1, Obama weighs 180 pounds. His pulse is
56 and his blood pressure is 105 over 62 — both very good. He has 20/20
vision in both eyes. A virtual colonoscopy found him free of colon
cancer.

Obama exercises regularly and he enjoys playing
basketball and golf. But the doctor’s report said he had chronic
tendinitis in his left leg, for which he takes a nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory. The doctor recommended he modify his exercise regime
to strengthen the leg.

—

(c) 2010, Tribune Co.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.