By Mateo Bueno Sá
Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro had isolated episodes of high blood pressure during the week, but his defense says he is clinically stable and has no significant complaints. A medical report was delivered on Friday (Nov. 6) to Justice Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), Brazil's highest court.
Medication adjusted after blood pressure episodes
The most notable point in the document is a change in medication. Doctor Brasil Ramos Caiado moved up the usual doses of a vasodilator, a drug that widens blood vessels, and the response in controlling blood pressure was considered good. In other words, the medical team acted before the situation got out of hand.
Side effects under watch
The centrally acting drugs used in the treatment have brought two problems: chronic instability of body balance and drowsiness during the day. The report treats this as something to be managed, not as a crisis.
To reduce risks, Bolsonaro follows a strict diet low in acidity, salt and fat. There are also specific measures to lower the risk of falls and of gastric reflux.
Rehabilitation at a higher pace
A second document, signed by physical therapist Kleber Antonio Caiado de Freitas, describes a session early in the week with more resistance exercises and the use of weights. The goal is to gain strength, stability and mobility, taking into account the patient's current limitations.
What comes next
Medical monitoring continues. The team intends to keep him clinically stable by watching both his cardiovascular condition and the side effects of the drugs he is taking. Meanwhile, the defense is trying to show, with documents, that the former president is receiving treatment and that his condition is under control.
Why it matters
Jair Bolsonaro was Brazil's president from 2019 to 2022 and remains the central figure of the Brazilian right. Moraes is the STF justice who received the report. Filing documented medical reports with the court is how the defense shows the former president's health is being followed closely.
VDD Analysis
In a country where a former president's health becomes a matter of state, a report delivered to the STF is the right way to handle the subject: with medical documentation, the names of the professionals involved and a follow-up plan. What is expected for any citizen, including someone who has governed the country, is the right to dignified and transparent treatment, without unnecessary exposure and without speculation about what is not on paper.
