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Biden is ‘healthy’ and ‘vigorous,’ White House doctor says

The results of the president’s physical exam comes as Biden, the oldest person ever elected to the White House, mulls reelection.

By MYAH WARD

The White House released Joe Biden’s health report on Thursday, describing an 80-year-old president who is “healthy,” “vigorous” and “fit to successfully execute the duties” of his office.

It was the president’s second annual physical at Walter Reed Medical Center since taking office and comes just before a widely expected announcement for a reelection bid. Biden, the oldest person ever elected to the White House, has been subject to questions of his mental acuity and age — an attack line his challengers are likely to lean into on the campaign trail.

“President Biden remains a healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, to include those as Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander in Chief,” Kevin O’Connor, the president’s physician, wrote in his health summary.

Since his last physical, Biden battled a case of Covid and a rebound infection but O’Connor said the president has not experienced any prolonged symptoms that would be considered long Covid.

Biden’s health has remained stable since his last medical exam was released in November 2021. In that report, the doctor noted the president had a “perceptibly stiffer and less fluid” gait and more frequent throat clearing, two addendums that could be explained by relatively minor issues.

Biden did have a small lesion removed from his chest on Thursday and sent for biopsy, the doctor’s summary said. First lady Jill Biden had cancerous tissue removed last month.

The president also underwent an “extremely detailed neurologic exam,” but resulted in no findings that would be consistent with a stroke, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease. An exam of Biden’s head, ears, eyes, nose and throat were also normal.

As was the case in 2021, Thursday’s summary noted Biden was being treated for several common age-related conditions such as a minor heart arrhythmia and an elevated cholesterol level. O’Connor said Thursday that the president’s cholesterol remains “remarkably low” on his current medication.

For the president’s “mild sensory peripheral neuropathy of the feet,” which was also noted in the 2021 report, the doctor on Thursday prescribed Biden custom orthotics.

The president weighed in at 178 pounds — down six pounds from his last physical — and stands 6 feet tall. He still works out five days a week, the doctor said, and does not drink alcohol or use tobacco products.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended Biden’s health earlier Thursday when pressed on the president’s age during the press briefing.

“If you watch him, you’ll see that he has a grueling schedule that he keeps up with — that sometimes some of us are not able to keep up with,” she said.

She noted that at last week’s State of the Union, “I believe he spent 90 minutes speaking to congressional members in front of him to the American people. After that, he spent an hour shaking hands and saying hello and greeting congressional members and their guests.