Romney doctor attests to his excellent health

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney released a letter from his physician Friday that confirmed he is in excellent health.

Physician's Letter on Mitt Romney's Health

“There are no physical impairments that should interfere with his rigorous and demanding political career as the next president of the United States,” wrote Dr. Randall Gaz of the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, who said he has served as Romney’s personal physician since 1989.

© Brian Snyder / Reuters / REUTERS

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney takes over the microphone from vice-presidential candidate Congressman Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., at a campaign rally in Jacksonville, Florida September 1, 2012.

Gaz reported in the letter released by the Romney campaign that the former Massachusetts governor has a remarkably low resting heart rate “in the 40’s” which he said was most likely related to “past intensive exercise with regular running.”

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Romney – who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormons – “totally abstains form drinking any alcoholic beverages, and does not use any tobacco products or illicit drugs,” the letter said.

Gaz also said Romney “appears younger than his age” (he is 65) and is “energetic, strong, (and) physically fit” with no history of hypertension, heart disease, cancer, stroke, or any other major diseases or medical conditions.

“His family history is notable for cardiac arrhythmias, heart attack, and prostate cancer,” the letter said. So “in light of these familial tendencies, he will continue to have close observation of the prostate with serial PSA testing and urologic examination.”

Republican vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin released a letter from his doctor summing up the results of his physical exam and affirming that he, like Romney, is in excellent health. 

Physician's Letter on Paul Ryan's Health

Both the Romney and Ryan letters were summaries of their medical exams but did include some details such as blood pressure (130/80 for Romney and 121/62 for Ryan).

President Barack Obama passed his physical check-up last November with his physician, Dr. Jeffrey Kuhlman, writing "The president is in excellent health and 'fit for duty.'"

Four years ago, there was much speculation about the health of Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain of Arizona, due to his age at that point, 71, and his earlier melanoma diagnosis. But McCain’s doctors gave him a clean bill of health.