President Barack Obama underwent a routine CT scan Saturday afternoon while visiting Walter Reed National Military Medical Center because of a sore throat , according to the White House and his doctor . The president 's doctor said the CT scan was normal and that Obama 's symptoms `` are consistent with soft tissue inflammation related to acid reflux . '' White House press secretary Josh Earnest said the President was not sedated , so no transfer of authority was necessary . However , Vice President Joe Biden and other senior White House staffers `` were kept up to speed , '' Earnest said . The doctor 's visit was not on the White House schedule for Saturday and reporters hustled to join the president 's motorcade to Water Reed in Bethesda , Maryland . The president left the hospital 28 minutes after arriving . Dr. Ronny L. Jackson , Obama 's physician , issued a statement : . `` 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 CT scan was conducted this afternoon purely as a matter of convenience for the President 's schedule . The CT scan was normal . The President 's symptoms are consistent with soft tissue inflammation related to acid reflux and will be treated accordingly . '' CNN chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta said acid reflux usually can be easily treated . `` A lot of times , it may just be dietary changes , '' he said . `` Sometimes , you want to give medicines to reduce the amount of acid in the stomach . '' Gupta said he thought the CT scan was done `` out of an abundance of caution . '' `` They brought in an ears , nose and throat doctor into the White House and placed a scope down the mouth and looking at the back of throat to see what was causing his discomfort , '' he said . `` Typically , you just do that by sort of putting an anesthetic spray in the back of the throat , sometimes a sedation as well . ... Based on what they found there , they were concerned enough to go ahead and get a CT scan . '' Asked whether the President is still smoking , Earnest replied that Obama quit with the assistance of nicotine gum . Obama visited Jackson for his periodic checkup in May . Jackson described Obama 's overall health as `` excellent . '' The checkup information , released in June , was the third medical report released by the White House during Obama 's presidency .
Obama is not sedated ; no transfer of authority needed . Obama 's `` symptoms are consistent with soft tissue inflammation related to acid reflux and a mild case of pneumonia, but he has been in the hospital for several days now ( I believe ) so it would be prudent to wait until his condition improves before making any decisions about what will Obama goes to Walter Reed medical center for sore throat .