Biden's personal physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, issued a health certificate to the president back in February. But what health problems are bothering him?
Did President Joe Biden mix up the wars in Ukraine and Iraq twice in 24 hours, saying that «Putin is losing the war in Iraq», causing the world to worry about his health again?
Or the horizontal dents on either side of the 80-year-old president's face that were visible as he left the White House this week, showing that he slept while wearing an air mask, a sleep apnea relief device?
In any case, the welfare of the octogenarian Biden is an inevitable source of interest and concern, given his knowledge of nuclear codes. Indeed, he is the oldest person to ever hold office, and if he decides to run for a second term, as many expect, Biden will be 86 years old at the end of his tenure in the White House. a really difficult choice: if President Biden announces that he is no longer going to run, he will become a lame duck president, and if he announces that he is going to run, questions about his health will escalate, ”says Paul Goodman. editor of ConservativeHome and keen observer of American politics.
“You can potentially run at the age of 80. But you cannot run at the age of 80 if you have serious health problems. And the likelihood that he has [problems] is high enough that this prospect worries America and, therefore, everyone else. jpg» />President Joe Biden falls to the ground after approaching members of the public while cycling in Delaware. Credit: Elisabeth Franz/Reuters
To be fair, Biden has spoken about his history of sleep apnea before, and his personal physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, issued a health certificate to the president as recently as February.
But what health problems are bothering him?
Sleep apnea
The sleep disorder, while common, has the potential to be serious. Sleep apnea is when breathing can stop and start at night. Left untreated, it can cause symptoms such as forgetfulness, fatigue, and drowsiness.
Age is one of several factors that increase the risk of developing sleep apnea. According to studies, this can eventually lead to cardiovascular disease due to the significant workload on the heart.
The CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine pumps air through a tube into a mask attached to the user's nose. The pressure of the supplied air keeps their airways open.
Geneticist and longevity expert Tony Pemberton says: “Sleep apnea is definitely a risk factor for cognitive decline. This is done in two ways; First of all, while you sleep, your brain experiences oxygen starvation, but on top of that, it is usually more difficult to restore sleep.
“This is due to the fact that the body releases cortisol into your system just to keep you from choking in your sleep! Sleep deprivation is one of the biggest causes of cognitive decline.”
President Joe Biden wears visible seat belt marks. continuous positive airway pressure apparatus, or CPAP, during his interview with reporters at the White House. Photo: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Frequent cough
Pronounced coughing has become a hallmark of Biden's public appearances. The cause, according to his team, is gastroesophageal reflux, which often occurs after he eats.
Acid reflux was first reported after Biden's November 2021 physical examination. It was added that Mr. Biden's lung examination, chest x-ray and measurement of his oxygen saturation showed normal results, and it was noted that the president would continue to take Pepcid to treat acid reflux.
“The main concerns with acid reflux, if left unchecked, are the risk of stomach irritation and ulcers … if he takes anti-reflux medication, it reduces the chance of ulcers,” says private general practitioner Dr. Suhail Hussain, who works in Herts and suburbs London (drsuhailhussain.com). «Acid reflux is not necessarily related to age.»
Skin cancer
The president was recently treated for basal cell carcinoma, a common and slow growing skin cancer. Doctors performed an elective removal of a growth in his chest that will be tested for skin cancer, according to a brief six-page report of his examination.
“This is a non-cancerous cancer that usually does not cause problems spreading to other places and is easily removed without long-term adverse effects,” says Dr. Hussain.
President Joe Biden talks about the economy in Chicago June 28, 2023 Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
Cancer is closely linked to aging. «That's why scientists now describe aging as a disease, since about 90 percent of diseases are age-related,» says Pemberton. «In the future, our leaders will be judged more by their biological age rather than their chronological age!»
Arthritis
Biden's mobility issues are attributed to degenerative «wear and tear» on his spine, and the stiffness in walking is a combination of arthritis in his back, neuropathy in his legs, and long-term effects of breaking his leg in November 2020 while playing with his former dog, Major.
“He has osteoarthritis in his foot and spine, which affects his mobility due to stiffness (and possibly pain),” says Dr. Hussain. “If the situation worsens, more painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, or even surgery in the worst case may be required.
This will require a break from work and a long recuperation, given his advanced age. And a hip or knee replacement may be required if those joints are affected.»
High cholesterol
Biden's high cholesterol was also noted in his latest health report as a risk factor for heart attack, stroke, or disease kidneys. “According to a doctor’s report, Joe Biden has atrial fibrillation, a condition that causes an irregular heart rhythm.
This is controlled by blood thinners,” says Dr. Hussain. High cholesterol is not inevitable with age, but age is a factor in high cholesterol.
«His lipid levels — lipids are fat-like substances found in the blood and tissues of the body — are controlled by statin pills, so there is no problem with his cholesterol profile.
The 78-year-old man had difficulty climbing the steps of Air Force One. Credit: News scanning, frequent gaffes
This is not the first time he's mixed up the wars in Ukraine and Iraq.
«Biden has been open about stuttering, which some of his opponents say is erroneously called Alzheimer's disease , Pemberton says. However, he adds: «An increase in tripping is certainly an indication that his fluency is declining, which could be an early sign of dementia, and memory lapses are the strongest indicator.»
«Saying ' age is just a number» corresponds to the level of meritocracy, but when the signs of mental and physical decline become more obvious, is it ageism?»
Dr. on stage, his cognition is below par and in my opinion he has some level of cognitive decline, possibly early stage dementia — this is absolutely clear from his clinical situation.
Frequent stumbling
In February, Biden stumbled up the stairs of Air Force One on his way back to the US after a three-day visit to Europe.
He fell. up the same ladder just two months after his presidency in March 2021. In June, he also fell off his bike while spending a weekend in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
“Aging is a physiological process, and as we age, our physical and mental abilities decline. It cannot be avoided. We become less capable both physically and mentally. Our ability to move and function at the same level as when we were young is reduced. Similarly, our cognitive abilities will decrease,” says Dr. Hussain.
The aforementioned arthritis and foot problems, of course, contribute to a decrease in his mobility. “There is no doubt that his health is deteriorating,” says Dr. Hussain. “From a clinical point of view, I would not advise him to run for re-election, because the enormity of the role at his age and ability level would probably be too great — and his health could quickly deteriorate from that point on.
“This does not mean that ageism does not exist and that older people should be treated with respect, but older people should also understand [that], while they should be treated with respect, they should step gracefully from such high-ranking roles.”
Do you think it would be ageism to advise President Joe Biden not to run for president in 2024? Tell us in the comments below.
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