Biden ‘remains fit for duty,’ White House doctor says after his 2nd presidential physical

Joe Biden on Thursday had his second bodily as president, at Walter Reed Nationwide Army Medical Heart, greater than a yr after his first bodily since taking the White Home.

In response to a memo launched later Thursday from the president’s doctor, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Biden “stays match for obligation, and absolutely executes all of his duties with none exemptions or lodging.”

“President Biden stays a wholesome, vigorous, 80-year-old male, who’s match to efficiently execute the duties of the Presidency, to incorporate these as Chief Government, Head of State and Commander in Chief,” O’Connor wrote.

Biden, who’s the oldest sitting president, has mentioned he’s leaning towards searching for a second time period, and his bodily health and psychological acuity will doubtless be prime of thoughts for voters if he does run once more.

He has largely disregarded these age questions amid hypothesis about his 2024 plans.

“Look, I am a terrific respecter of destiny. I might be fully, completely trustworthy with the American individuals if I assumed there was any well being drawback, something that might hold me from having the ability to do the job. And and, so we’ll see. However, you already know, I simply — I believe individuals have to simply watch me,” Biden mentioned in an interview with “PBS NewsHour” earlier this month.

Biden did not touch upon his bodily as left the White Home on Thursday morning or upon arriving on the hospital, the place he greeted members of the army.

The president’s final bodily befell Nov. 19, 2021 — someday earlier than his 79th birthday.

O’Connor wrote following Thursday’s examination that Biden continues to be handled for 4 totally different circumstances: non-valvular atrial fibrillation, a sort of irregular coronary heart rhythm; hyperlipidemia, larger concentrations of fat or lipids within the blood; gastroesophageal reflux and seasonal allergic reactions.

Whereas O’Connor famous Biden’s gait had stiffened throughout his earlier bodily, he mentioned on this yr’s report that it was doubtless the reason for “put on and tear” on the backbone however didn’t end in “root nerve compression important sufficient to warrant any particular therapy.”

O’Connor additionally famous Biden’s frequent throat clearing, as he did in his final bodily letter, however wrote that it remained unchanged from final yr.

Biden had a lesion faraway from his chest for biopsy as a part of his pores and skin most cancers surveillance throughout Thursday’s go to, although a report is pending on that. Biden had a number of non-melanoma pores and skin cancers eliminated with Mohs surgical procedure earlier than he entered workplace, O’Connor famous.

Notably since his first bodily, the president had COVID-19 and a rebound case of the virus following his Paxlovid therapy in July 2022.

O’Connor wrote on Thursday that Biden shouldn’t be coping with any long-haul signs following that an infection and has obtained his bivalent COVID-19 vaccine.

Since his earlier bodily, Biden additionally took a spill whereas using his bike in Rehoboth Seaside, Delaware, in June 2022, although he required no medical consideration for the autumn.

Essentially the most notable well being incidents in Biden’s previous have been the 2 cranial aneurysms he suffered in 1988.

Physicals sometimes embody measures of top, weight, blood strain, coronary heart price and ldl cholesterol, though Biden’s 2021 examination additionally included an examination of his eyes, pores and skin, ears, nostril and throat, neurological and pulmonary system, thyroid and even his enamel.

Biden was initially slated to finish his bodily by the top of January, although it was delayed on account of a busy interval of presidential journey, per a White Home official.

ABC Information’ Sarah Kolinovsky contributed to this report.