Obama's doctor says he's fit to lead
Blood pressure, cholesterol low
Barack Obama is slim and fit, ready for the physical and mental rigors of the presidency, and, at least before he started campaigning, had a remarkably low blood pressure, his personal physician said in a summary released yesterday.
Obama's most recent medical exam, in January 2007, "showed him to be in excellent health," David L. Scheiner, his doctor for the past 21 years, wrote in a one-page letter issued by the Democratic front-runner's campaign. "Senator Barack Obama is in overall good physical and mental health needed to maintain the resiliency required in the office of president."
The only possible concerns are his family history of cancer - his mother died of ovarian cancer and a maternal grandfather died of prostate cancer - and his personal struggles with smoking.
"He has quit this practice on several occasions and is currently using Nicorette gum with success," Scheiner said.
The doctor also reported that a prostate screening found Obama's PSA reading at 0.6, indicating no abnormalities.
The summary is the first public declaration Obama has made on his health.
He turns 47 in August and has emphasized his relative youth as part of his campaign theme of newness and change.
The presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain, will turn 72 in August and is trying to become the oldest person elected to a first term as president.
He is banking on his experience.
And unlike the cursory summary that Obama's campaign released yesterday, McCain's campaign made available hundreds of pages of medical records a week ago to demonstrate that he is in general good health and cancer-free after four cases of melanoma.
Asked why Obama had not had a physical since January 2007 and whether any more details would be forthcoming, spokesman Bill Burton replied in an e-mail: "He's been on the campaign trail. Senator Obama has a clean bill of health, as this letter shows. With no surgery or hospital stays, this is a complete summary of his doctor visits and medical records for the past two decades."
Scheiner, who is on staff at University of Chicago Hospitals and Rush University Medical Center, writes that "during that period of time, Senator Obama has been in excellent health. He has been seen regularly for medical checkups and various minor problems such as upper respiratory infections, skin rashes, and minor injuries."
Obama's most recent physical found that "he exercised regularly, often jogging 3 miles," that his diet was "balanced with good intake of roughage and fluids," and that "his build was lean and muscular with no excess body fat."
His blood pressure of 90 over 60 is comparable with the under 120 over 80 that is considered optimal. His total cholesterol was 173 (normal is under 200); his bad or LDL cholesterol was 96 (normal is under 130); and his good, or HDL, reading was 68 (normal is over 40). An electrocardiogram showed no signs of a heart problem. 