Private MD News

Physical reveals President Obama has high cholesterol

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Individuals who have received unhealthy cholesterol test results are not alone. A new report has come out indicating that even President Barack Obama has less than ideal cholesterol.

The President recently underwent his second physical during his time in office. ABC News reports that he is in excellent overall health, but that his LDL cholesterol is slightly higher than where it should be.

Currently, President Obama's cholesterol test score stands at 110. This is an improvement over the 138 he was given at the time of his last physical, but medical experts recommend that individuals should have LDL levels below 100.

"A U.S. president should have an optimal LDL of less than 100," cardiologist Lori Mosca told the news source. "It's great that he is improving with his lifestyle, especially stopping smoking."

Despite the fact that the President has quit smoking, the fact that he used tobacco for many years puts him at a higher lifetime risk of heart disease. Experts from the Mayo Clinic say that smoking causes fatty cholesterol to build up in the arteries, which may lead to a heart attack or stroke.