President Donald Trump said in a Wall Street Journal interview published Thursday that he took a higher dose of aspirin than doctors recommended, blaming it for visible bruises on his hands that raised new questions about his health.
“They say aspirin helps thin the blood, and I don’t want thick blood flowing through my heart,” Trump, 79, said of why he took the larger dose. “I want good, thin blood flowing through my heart. Does that make sense?”
“I’m a little superstitious,” the president added, noting that he has been taking aspirin for 25 years.
The interview appears to be one of Trump’s broadest protections for reporters about his health, as scrutiny intensifies this year on his age, qualifications for office and whether his medical information is sufficiently transparent. Trump has long had a bruise on his right hand, which CNN reported began long before he returned to the White House. But it attracted more attention when he started trying to cover it up with heavy makeup and bandages and shielding the camera with his other hand. Observers also expressed concern about swelling in his legs and that he appeared to be dozing off at public events.
Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, told the Wall Street Journal that the president takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily. According to the Mayo Clinic, low-dose aspirin “can help prevent heart disease or stroke,” ranging from 75 to 100 mg, with 81 mg generally recommended. The Mayo Clinic also says that the daily dose of aspirin therapy “usually ranges” from 75 to 325 milligrams.
Aspirin helps thin the blood, which prevents blood clots from forming, but there is a risk of excessive bleeding. In recent years, medical guidelines have stopped recommending that many adults take daily aspirin because the risks outweigh the benefits, and some recommend that patients stop aspirin treatment entirely in their 70s.
CNN has reached out to the White House for comment on his interview with The Wall Street Journal.
During a series of events last week, Trump – who last year became the oldest president to be sworn in – showed discoloration or minor bruising on the back of his left hand, in addition to a more persistent bruise that had been visible on his right hand for months.
The White House has previously explained that the bruise on his right hand was caused by shaking hands frequently and taking aspirin regularly, which would make the discoloration more common.
The bruises raise questions about the White House’s reluctance to be more transparent about the president’s health, although medical experts told CNN there was no new cause for concern.
During 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 no details about the surgery or what doctors were seeking to explore, telling reporters they should ask his doctors.
When asked about the scan by The Wall Street Journal, Trump said it was not an MRI but a CT scan. Bababella told the Wall Street Journal that this was done to “completely rule out any cardiovascular issues.”
“This is not an MRI,” Trump said. “Less than that. It’s a scan.”
Earlier this month, Barbera issued a memo saying medical imaging in October of Trump’s cardiovascular and abdominal systems showed “completely normal” results.
Trump also spoke about the steps he has taken to treat other ailments, including the White House announcing in July that calf swelling was caused by chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition in older adults.
Trump told the Wall Street Journal that he tried compression socks but “didn’t like them.” He also said he was not interested in exercising regularly.
“I just don’t like it. It’s boring,” Trump said. “Walking or running for hours on a treadmill like some people do, that’s not for me.”
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