The Medical Condition That Could Increase Donald Trump's Chance Of Having A Heart Attack

Photos of President Donald Trump showing large bruises on his hands and swelling around his ankles have raised questions about his health. To address these concerns, White House physician Sean Barbabella reported that Trump has chronic venous insufficiency, a condition common in older adults that can cause pooling of blood in the legs (via The White House). He also noted that the dark spots on Trump's hands are the result of aspirin therapy used to protect his heart.

While Trump's examination also showed no signs of arterial disease or deep vein thrombosis, past White House medical reports revealed that Trump has hypercholesterolemia, also known as high cholesterol. In 2018, his total cholesterol was 223 mg/dL despite taking 10 milligrams of rosuvastatin (Crestor). His doctor then increased the dose to 40 milligrams, which lowered his cholesterol to 196 just a year later.

Trump now takes both rosuvastatin and ezetimibe, which has brought his cholesterol down to a healthier 140. Without medication, his high cholesterol combined with other risk factors could put him at greater risk for a heart attack.

Trump's doctor increasing his rosuvastatin dose was an important step in lowering his cholesterol because high cholesterol is one of many risk factors for a heart attack. Even though his cholesterol is now at a healthy level, his age still puts him at higher risk. For men, the risk of a heart attack starts climbing after age 45. For women, that age is 55.

Diet also plays a big role. Eating a lot of sodium and saturated fat can raise the risk of a heart attack, and Trump's daily eating habits aren't exactly heart-healthy. He's been open about his love for McDonald's sandwiches like the Big Mac and Filet-o-Fish. Trump's go-to McDonald's lunch order has about 770 fewer calories than some alternatives, but it's still loaded with saturated fat. While Trump has lost some weight since his first term, he's still considered overweight for his height. Both obesity and being overweight add to the risk of a heart attack.

Lack of regular exercise is another factor for a heart attack. Trump often plays golf at his many courses, but unlike professional golfers, he doesn't usually walk the course. Even though he recently reintroduced the Presidential Fitness Test, he's admitted he isn't a fan of exercise. He's even said he thinks people are like batteries with only a limited amount of energy to spend over a lifetime, according to The New Yorker. Back in 2018, Trump's White House physician recommended that he start a regular exercise program.

According to Politico, Trump's late brother Fred warned him early on about drinking alcohol, so his choice to stay away from alcohol and smoking has been a win for his health. Another positive is that his blood pressure is only slightly elevated at 128/74 mmHg, and high blood pressure is another risk factor for a heart attack. Despite his love of chocolate cake and McDonald's milkshakes, Trump's blood sugar is normal. His triglycerides are also in a healthy range. On top of that, Trump takes a low dose of aspirin as a preventive measure against heart attack or stroke.

Even if someone has a particular risk factor for heart disease, doctors often look at the bigger picture. They use risk calculators that consider your overall health and lifestyle to determine your chances of having a heart attack. For example, the American College of Cardiology's ASCVD Risk Estimator can show how your risk might drop if you start taking aspirin, statins, or blood pressure medication. Since smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for heart attack and stroke, these calculators also factor in how quitting smoking lowers your risk.