Only in America could a presidential candidate’s cholesterol levels become an election issue. This week has seen Republican candidate John McCain open his medical records to reporters – all 1200 pages of them (link).
There has been much speculation about the fitness of the 72-year old Vietnam vet and former POW to be president – with analysts poring over the results of his previous surgery like divine sages at the court of the Chinese Emperor.
His personal doctors commented on the excision margins of Senator McCain’s skin cancer operation to remove a melanoma in 2000 (6cm) and the number of lymph nodes removed (33). Reporters were told of the exact number of polyps removed during the candidate’s most recent colonoscopy (six) and that the senator occasionally experienced “benign positional vertigo,” but this did not mean he was at risk of stroke. His BP is reported as a “healthy” 134 over 84.
And of course the full range of the senator’s medications were listed: simvastatin, hydrochlorothiazide, low-dose aspirin, zolpidem (oh dear hope we don’t get a president who is sleepwalking into disaster!), cetirizine for his nasal allergies; and a multivitamin. With that many medications it sounds like he’s eligible for a home medicines review.
Most bizarrely though, is the debate about the presidential candidate’s lipid levels. The fluctuations in John McCain’s cholesterol levels are reported as if they were opinion polls. For the record, he currently has total cholesterol levels of 5.0 mmol/L (192mg/dl) and his LDL is 3.2 (123) while his HDL is only 1.1.
But wait! There’s more! The marketing and public relations departments of various pharma companies have been taking special interest in what happened to John McCain’s LDL levels after he switched from Vytorin to simvastatin – noting they went up from 2.2 mmol/L (83mg/dL) to 3.2 (123). This has been seized on as a marketing opportunity for rival lipid lowering drugs. As one manager said in an email to medical reps: “if McCain can't control his LDL-cholesterol, how is he going to lead the free world?”
Where will it all end? Are we to expect the results from Barack Obama’s PSA test? Hillary Clinton’s Pap smears? I hope Australia doesn’t go down this road of full disclosure of politicians’ health records. Let Kevin07 refer to the election year, not his cholesterol levels.
Comments
What do I think?
I think that Michael Woodhead should not waste his time writing about McCain’s health history.
I think I should not waste my time reading about it.
And spend less time complaining to Michael Woodhead re: this waste.
I’ll just delete this email, Oh, damn, that was the “Send” button.
Posted by Dr. G.J. Cumming, on Wednesday, 28 May 2008
Regarding Senator McCain's cholesterol levels - reminds me of the times when the court advisors used to inspect the King's bedpan and report on his health to the people each day! Posted by Choong-Siew YONG on Tuesday, 27 May 2008
