Donald Trump connects: myths and facts about his health

US President Donald Trump has always been controversial with his comments regarding his health.The 79-year-old has for years touted himself as the strongest and healthiest president in American history, a self-assessment consistently backed up by those around him.

Donald Trump presents a puzzle: myths and facts about his health

US President Donald Trump often causes controversy with statements about his physical condition.Over the years, the 79-year-old has described himself as the fittest and healthiest president in US history - a self-assessment that is repeatedly confirmed by those around him.

At the same time, more prominent moments are being reported about drugs, eating habits and meetings that raise suspicions.A real myth has now formed surrounding the controversial president's health.

Doctor Harold Bornstein and the famous health letter

In 2015, Trump's then-doctor, Harold Bornstein, sent a letter stating that the businessman was extremely healthy.Trump "does not have any significant medical conditions" and will be "the healthiest person ever elected to the office of president."His blood pressure and lab results were "surprisingly excellent," and Trump had lost weight in the year before the report was released.

However, Bornstein later admitted that Trump wrote the message himself: "He wrote the whole letter. I didn't write it," the doctor said in retrospect, according to CNN, but emphasized that he fundamentally supported the positive assessment.

Doctors praise the president's mental strength

According to This Week, Ronny Jackson, President Trump's doctor at the time during his first term, appeared with the White House press in 2018 and certified the president's "health status."“There is no indication that there is a problem with the president’s thinking,” Jackson said.Trump had "a lot of energy and stamina" and passed cognitive tests that Jackson himself ordered.

At the same time, official information about height and weight caused skepticism because they placed Trump just below the obesity threshold, as analyzed by the Washington Post, among others.In the midst of that debate, Trump described himself as a "very stable genius" on social media.

Believers rage about 'supernatural' Trump

Stephen Miller, Trump's confidant and deputy chief of staff, found the words offensive.In an interview with New York Magazine, the political consultant said that Trump "has the ability to work hard, a good memory, more energy and strength than the average person."The title should have read: "High President."

At the same time, according to "The Week," observers pointed out that Trump's poll numbers were weak at the time and Republicans were facing losses in congressional elections — a stark contrast to the picture of unlimited power Miller painted.

Aspirin, accusations of fatigue and Trump's own comments

Reports about Trump's drug use and behavior at events have sparked controversy.He told the Wall Street Journal that he takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily because it's "good for blood thinners" and doesn't want to allow "heavy blood flow through the heart" — a much higher dose than many long-term medications.

According to New York magazine, President Trump was seen in an eye-popping video of the Cabinet meeting, commenting that the meeting was "boring."Despite talking loudly in meetings, missing training, and a reported addiction to fast food.His physician, Sean Barbavera, said the Republican was "in very good health and completely fit to carry out his duties."

Psychiatrist John Gartner warns of possible dementia

Während Trumps Umfeld seine körperliche Verfassung lobt, schlägt Psychiater John Gartner Alarm. Der frühere Professor der Johns-Hopkins-Universität analysierte Trumps Auftritte über Jahre hinweg und sieht darin Anzeichen einer Demenz. „Die Hauptmethode zur Diagnose von Demenz ist, dass wir eine Verschlechterung im Vergleich zur eigenen Ausgangslage in vier Bereichen sehen: Sprache, Gedächtnis, Verhalten und psychomotorische Leistung“, so Gartner laut „The I Paper“.

In alten Aufnahmen aus den 1980er-Jahren wirke Trump noch „sehr artikuliert“ und spreche in „ausformulierten Absätzen“. Heute habe er Schwierigkeiten, Sätze und Gedanken zu Ende zu bringen. Zudem verweist Gartner auf einen schwankenden, breitbeinigen Gang, den er mit einer möglichen frontotemporalen Demenz und sogar einem vermuteten Schlaganfall in Verbindung bringt – offiziell bestätigt ist das nicht.

It affected Trump

Although Trump likes to focus on his good health, he has yet to be officially diagnosed with the disease.Personal doctor Sean Barbabella diagnosed chronic venous insufficiency, i.e. weakness of the veins, which mainly affects the elderly.Blood does not flow optimally from the legs back to the heart and can pool.

According to the BBC, the doctor described the diagnosis as "good and comprehensive" and said there were no signs of deep vein thrombosis or vascular disease.In the medical report, Barbabella also mentioned bruising on the back of her hand, which she attributed to handshakes and aspirin.(This article was created in collaboration with promipool.de)