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White House says Obama in excellent health

By WTOP Staff

DARLENE SUPERVILLE
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — His frequent burger runs aside, President Barack Obama is in excellent health, the White House said Thursday in its first update on his well-being in nearly three years.

Obama eats a healthy diet, exercises daily and remains tobacco free, according to a two-page memo from his doctor after a physical exam last month. Obama is a former smoker who is often seen chewing nicotine gum.

But with age, there often are aches and pains. Obama, who turns 53 in August, suffers from mild tenderness in the muscle beneath his right foot, a condition he treats by taking an occasional ibuprofen tablet.

He also takes a daily supplement to treat mild Vitamin D deficiency.

“The president’s overall health is excellent,” Obama’s doctor, Ronny L. Jackson, said in the memo to White House press secretary Jay Carney. “All clinical data indicates that the president is currently healthy and that he will remain so for the duration of his presidency.”

The White House released the report after repeated inquiries by The Associated Press into the lack of transparency about the president’s health. Obama’s previous health update came in October 2011.

He has had three physical exams as president. The first one was conducted in February 2010.

Obama’s pulse and blood pressure are excellent, according to Thursday’s report.

His total cholesterol registered at 213, a bit over the recommendation to stay below 200. His LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol is slightly above the recommendation to stay below 130, pushing both into the borderline high category. But both are also offset by his excellent HDL, or “good,” cholesterol level, which, at 72, is above the recommended 60.

The 6-foot-1 Obama also had lost a pound and a few ounces since 2011, and had several benign skin tags removed from his neck.

Obama has maintained good health since taking office, with his weight, body mass index, pulse, blood pressure and temperature all basically holding steady over the years, according to the medical reports.

He weighed 179.9 pounds in 2010, went to 181.3 pounds in 2011 and dropped back 180 pounds last month.

While there is no requirement for the president to have a physical exam, modern officeholders undergo them regularly and routinely release the results to reassure the public that they are up to the job, said Dr. Connie Mariano, who was chief White House physician and director of the White House Medical Unit under President Bill Clinton.

“But it’s pretty much the job of the White House doctor to say ‘Mr. President, it’s been a year or 18 months. We ought to take a look at your cholesterol, check your blood pressure,'” she said. “All the basic things we encourage other Americans to get checked.”

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AP Medical Writer Lauran Neergaard contributed to this report.

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Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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