US President Donald Trump has said he avoids exercise because he finds it \u201cboring,\u201d aside from playing golf, while addressing questions about his health and medical decisions in a new interview with The Wall Street Journal.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just don\u2019t like it. It\u2019s boring,\u201d Trump told the Journal, dismissing activities such as treadmill walking or running. \u201cTo walk on a treadmill or run on a treadmill for hours and hours like some people do, that\u2019s not for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Golf over gym workouts<\/p>\n
Trump, who turns 80 in June, said golf remains his primary form of physical activity. The President regularly plays at courses he owns in Florida, New Jersey and Virginia, often on weekends and holidays.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy \u2018exercise\u2019 is playing, almost never during the week, a quick round of golf,\u201d Trump tweeted in 2020, a remark he reiterated in the interview, according to the Journal.<\/p>\n
Health concerns and genetics<\/p>\n
Trump sought to play down concerns about his age and fitness, telling the news outlet that he benefits from \u201cvery good genetics\u201d that protect him from common age-related health issues.<\/p>\n
However, he acknowledged that he has, at times, gone against medical advice.<\/p>\n
Compression socks and blood-flow issue<\/p>\n
Trump told the Journal that he stopped wearing compression socks prescribed to treat chronic venous insufficiency \u2014 a blood-flow condition that caused swelling in his legs and ankles last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t like them,\u201d he said, despite medical experts warning that compression socks can help prevent serious complications such as blood clots.<\/p>\n
Instead, Trump said he has opted to walk more and limit long periods sitting behind the Resolute Desk so his leg muscles can help pump blood back to his heart.<\/p>\n
Scan clarification: CT, not MRI<\/p>\n
In a clarification likely to draw attention, Trump and his physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, told WSJ that the President underwent a less-intensive CT scan during an October physical \u2014 not an MRI \u2014 to assess his cardiovascular health.<\/p>\n
Trump<\/a> and his aides had previously referred to the scan as an MRI<\/a>, fueling months of speculation.<\/p>\n Aspirin regimen and superstition<\/p>\n Dr. Barbabella told the Journal that Trump takes a 325-milligram daily aspirin regimen for heart health<\/a>, a higher dose than the commonly recommended 81 milligrams.<\/p>\n Trump<\/a> said the choice was partly driven by personal belief.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a little superstitious,\u201d he told the news outlet.<\/p>\n \u201cThey say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don\u2019t want thick blood pouring through my heart. I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?\u201d Trump<\/a> said, according to the Journal.<\/p>\n