President Donald Trump told The Wall Street Journal in an interview published Thursday that he takes a higher dose of aspirin than his doctors recommended, putting it down to the visible bruises on his hands that have generated renewed questions about his health.
“They say aspirin is good for thinning the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring out of my heart,” Trump, 79, said of taking a larger dose. “I want nice, thin blood pouring out of my heart. Does that make sense?”
“I am a bit superstitious,” added the president, noting that he has been taking aspirin for 25 years.
The interview seemed to be one of the most extensive conservations that Trump had with journalists about his health, as this year has intensified scrutiny on his age, his health for office and whether he is being sufficiently transparent with his medical information. Trump has long had a bruise on his right hand, which CNN reported was before his return to the White House. But she attracted more attention after he started trying to cover her with heavy make-up and bandages and shield her from the cameras with his other hand. Observers have also raised concerns about swelling in his legs and that he appeared to be enjoying himself at public events.
Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, told the Journal that the president takes 325 milligrams of aspirin a day. According to Mayo Clinic, a low dose of aspirin, which “can help prevent a heart attack or stroke,” ranges from 75 to 100 milligrams and 81 milligrams is commonly recommended. The Mayo Clinic also says that for aspirin therapy, the daily dose “is usually between” 75 to 325 milligrams.
Aspirin helps to thin the blood, which can prevent clots from forming, but it also comes with the risk of excessive bleeding. In recent years, medical guidelines have stopped recommending daily aspirin for many adults because the risks outweigh the benefits, and some suggest stopping aspirin therapy altogether when patients turn 70.
CNN has reached out to the White House for comment on his interview with the Journal.
In a series of events last week, Trump — who last year became the oldest president to take the oath of office — appeared with discoloration or light bruising on the back of his left hand, in addition to the more persistent bruising on his right hand that has been visible for months.
The White House previously explained that the bruise on his right hand is due to constant handshaking along with a regular aspirin regimen that can make such discoloration more common.
While medical experts told CNN there is no new cause for concern, the bruising has raised questions about the White House’s reluctance to be more transparent about the president’s health.
In the interview, Trump also discussed a scan he underwent in October, which he previously described to reporters as an MRI. At the time, the president gave few details about the procedure or what the doctors were looking to explore, telling reporters they should ask his doctors.
When asked about the scan by the Journal, Trump said it was not an MRI but rather a CT scan. Barbabella told the Journal that it was done “to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues.”
“It wasn’t an MRI,” Trump said. “It was less than that. It was a scan.”
Earlier this month, Barbabella released a memo saying that the October medical images were of Trump’s cardiovascular and abdominal systems and that both showed “perfectly normal” results.
Trump similarly addressed steps he took to treat other conditions, including swelling in his legs that the White House announced in July was due to chronic venous insufficiency — a common condition often found in older people.
Trump told the Journal he tried compression stockings but “didn’t like them.” He also suggested that he was not interested in taking regular exercise.
“I just don’t like it. It’s boring,” said Trump. “Walking on a treadmill or running on a treadmill for hours and hours like some, that’s not for me.”
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