President Obama Sore Throat Caused By Acid Reflux, POTUS Treated At Walter Reed Hospital

President Barack Obama sought treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington Saturday for a sore throat caused by acid reflux. Obama’s condition is not serious and the visit was a “matter of convenience for the President, not a matter of urgency,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said.

“The President has been complaining of a sore throat. In light of that and given that the president has free time in his schedule this afternoon, Dr. Jackson, the president’s physician, recommended he go to Walter Reed for some diagnostic tests,” Earnest said in a statement.

Dr. Ronnie Jackson provided further detail on his illness: “This morning, an ear, nose and throat specialist from Fort Belvoir Medical Center conducted a fiber optic exam, under my supervision, of the president’s throat based on symptoms of sore throat over the past couple weeks. The exam revealed soft tissue swelling in the posterior throat and I, in consultation with the specialist, determined that further evaluation with a routine CT scan was prudent.”

The exam revealed soft tissue inflammation in Obama’s throat consistent with acid reflux. The president was “treated accordingly,” Jackson said.

Obama left Walter Reed after approximately 30 minutes. The president’s entire trip from the White House to the hospital took approximately one hour and 40 minutes.

The president, 53, underwent a routine physical in May. Obama’s health at the time was “excellent,” Jackson said.