USA Elections 2024 Harris in "excellent" health according to doctor
According to her doctor, Democratic US presidential candidate Kamala Harris is in "excellent" health. The Vice President's office published a short report by her doctor Joshua Simmons. In it, he lists the results of various examinations at Harris' most recent health check in April, as well as details of the 59-year-old's medical history.
12.10.2024, 17:56
16.10.2024, 09:50
SDA
The doctor's report is significantly shorter than those of her boss, US President Joe Biden, who has always made headlines in recent years with long lists of age-related ailments.
It is a peculiarity of US politics that presidents regularly disclose the state of their health. This is not a legal requirement, but it has become a kind of ritual that no office holder can avoid. It is also common practice for presidential candidates to disclose the state of their health.
Harris maintains a healthy lifestyle
Simmons writes about Harris that she has the mental and physical resilience to fulfill all of her duties as president. Her tests had not revealed any abnormalities. Harris had suffered from allergies and rashes in the past. However, this has improved significantly with the help of treatments. Harris is slightly short-sighted and therefore wears contact lenses. Her only operation to date was an appendectomy when she was three years old. She exercises daily, eats a healthy diet, does not smoke and only drinks alcohol in moderation.
These medical reports looked different for Biden, who withdrew from the election campaign in the summer under pressure from his party and made way for Harris. They always listed various minor ailments, including unflattering things like general "wear and tear", a "stiff gait", hip problems and the use of a breathing mask to sleep. Biden was the oldest president ever to move into the White House. He ended his re-election campaign due to doubts among many party colleagues about his mental and physical fitness.
What about Trump's health?
Harris' Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, is 78 years old and is therefore also facing questions about his fitness. However, Trump has not yet published a detailed health check during the election campaign - only a brief medical update following the assassination attempt on him in mid-July.
