Following a recent pneumonia diagnosis, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton released more of her medical records to the public. Ms. Clinton's personal physician Lisa Bardack, MD, released an update of a July 2015 letter, featuring two new medical conditions including a sinus and ear infection as well as pneumonia, according to The New York Times.
Here are six thoughts:
1. Physicians not linked to Ms. Clinton claim Dr. Bardack's letters do not include essential information such as Ms. Clinton's height and weight. They also argue the letters should include a more detailed history of Ms. Clinton's blood clots and her 2012 concussion.
2. Based on the pneumonia information disclosed in the letter, William Schaffner, MD, an infectious diseases professor at Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt University, said Ms. Clinton's pneumonia treatment indicates the candidate may have had pneumonia longer than initial estimates indicated. The letters also suggest Ms. Clinton will need more X-rays and a follow-up examination to ensure her body responds appropriately to the treatment.
3. Dr. Schaffner also said the letter failed to disclose details as to whether the candidate was short of breath or experienced chest pain while breathing during the pneumonia episode.
4. In her letter, Dr. Bardack wrote Ms. Clinton did not have an underlying disorder that increases her risk for developing blood clots, although Ms. Clinton takes Coumadin as a precaution. The letter showed Ms. Clinton does not regularly take other medication except for a thyroid hormone, Clarinex for allergies and vitamin B-12.
5. After suffering a concussion in 2012, Dr. Bardack's recent CT scan showed no abnormalities and wrote the candidate was "in excellent mental condition."
6. Because Ms. Clinton's cholesterol levels were 118 and 103, some physicians have asked why the candidate is not taking a statin drug. However, the cardiologist who ran Mrs. Clinton's cholesterol and other lipid measurements found she did not need a statin therapy based on the results.
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