President Barack Obama will be treated for a sore throat due to acid reflux, after undergoing what the White House says was a "routine CT scan" on a rare Saturday visit to the doctor.
Obama traveled to Walter Reed Saturday for diagnostic tests after complaining of a sore throat, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said.
Obama’s physician, Ronny Jackson, recommended the trip and test as a "matter of convenience for the President, not a matter of urgency," Earnest said.
An ear, nose and throat specialist from Fort Belvoir Medical Center had conducted a fiber optic exam of Obama’s throat on Saturday morning revealing what Jackson said was soft tissue swelling in the back of the throat.
After consultation with the specialist, Jackson said he determined that further evaluation with a routine CT scan "was prudent."
He said the CT scan at Walter Reed was conducted Saturday "as a matter of convenience for the President’s schedule." He said th scan was normal. and that Obama’s symptoms are consistent with soft tissue inflammation related to acid reflux “and will be treated accordingly.”
Acid reflux is the backward flow of stomach acid into the esophagus, according to the Mayo Clinic website. It says it is “more specifically known as gastroesophageal reflux” and can be treated with over-the-counter medication.