Donald Trump has finally confirmed that he has health issues, while admitting he ignores the advice of doctors. The 80-year-old US president has faced relentless scrutiny regarding his wellbeing, with medical experts raising concerns over persistent hand bruising, severe leg swelling, and visible fatigue.
Yet, speaking on the campaign trail, Trump confessed that he refuses to reduce his medication regime because he fears a medical catastrophe if he follows professional advice. Addressing crowds at an Ohio campaign event over the weekend, Trump revealed he relies on an unusually high daily dose of aspirin not just for cardiovascular health, but for mental issues.
'Psychologically I need it'
"I take an aspirin a day. I don't know if it works, but psychologically I need it," he confessed. "It thins the hell out of your blood, I guess. I don't know if it works or not, but I've been doing it for a long time. And here I am making speeches."
Referring to his preferred brand, Bayer, as the "little yellow", Trump confirmed he insists on taking "the big one" rather than the standard preventative dose.
"They want me to go down to the 80. I take the 386. I don't know what the hell it is. It's a monster," he added. "They said, 'Sir, you don't need that!' I said, 'Do me a favour, I've been doing okay for 35 years. Leave me alone.'"
High-dose aspirin routine
Trump went on to explain how he could switch to the smaller dosage, admitting that he dislikes the appearance of a low-dose tablet because "it's tiny; it doesn't look right." He then added: "I'll switch to the little tiny thing, but then something bad will happen, and I'll say 'you son of a b**** doctor.'"
The typical dose recommended for cardiac prevention is around 81 milligrams, whereas Trump routinely consumes around 325 milligrams, a dose generally reserved for pain relief rather than routine preventive maintenance.
The admission follows comments Trump previously made to The Wall Street Journal, where he conceded that he is "a little superstitious" about the routine, having followed it for more than 25 years despite noticeable side effects.
Medical concerns raised
"They'd rather have me take the smaller one," Trump told the Journal. "I take the larger one, but I've done it for years, and what it does do is it causes bruising. They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don't want thick blood pouring through my heart. I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?"
Medical professionals have consistently warned that consuming high doses of aspirin without clinical justification drastically elevates the risk of severe bruising and internal bleeding, especially in older patients.
Trump's comments come amid broader scrutiny regarding his transparency over his physical wellbeing. Prominent medical figures, including leading cardiologist Dr Jonathan Reiner, have previously highlighted extensive bruising on Trump's hands, questioning claims that it resulted merely from handshaking. Concerns have also been raised over his acute leg swelling, episodes of drowsiness during meetings, and previous visits to dozens of specialists, intensifying questions surrounding his overall health.
