How Donald Trump and his supporters became obsessed with Hillary Clinton's health - a timeline

Democratic presidental candidate's health has been under scrutiny since she was admitted to hospital with a blood clot in 2012

Despite being two years younger than her opponent, Clinton's health is under much more scrutiny. (Getty Images)

Hillary Clinton’s early departure from the 9/11 memorial service on Sunday due to illness has prompted an inevitable rash of alarming headlines across America's right-wing media.

Video footage that appears to show the presidential candidate fainting and being helped into her van has ensured renewed scrutiny over the Democrats health and ability to run the country.

Ms Clinton’s campaign team and doctor have since said she left the ceremony in New York because she felt overheated, having recently been diagnosed with pneumonia - a statement that has failed to quell continued speculation that suggests more serious underlying health issues.

So when did the fascination with Ms Clinton’s health begin and is it justified?

December 2012

Much of the speculation surrounding Ms Clinton’s health starts here. While secretary of state, Ms Clinton fainted at home while suffering with a stomach virus.

She had concussion as a result and wore glasses to help with her double vision. Her husband, Bill Clinton, later said it took her six months to recover fully. In a routine check-up following Ms Clinton’s concussion, doctors find a blood-clot.

The clot does not cause any damage and tends to be treated with a dose of blood thinners over a few days in hospital. Both the concussion and the blood clot have frequently been used by right-wing commentators as supposed evidence of more severe health problems.

Spring 2016

Four years later, with the presidential campaign in full swing, Twitter users begin to speculate about Hillary’s health using the hashtag #HillaryHealth. Theories suggest she has an underlying health problem and is prone to seizures.

July 2016

During one interview, Ms Clinton is perceived by some as shaking her head eratically. It leads Jim Hoft, a conservative blogger from the Gateway Pundit, and other outlets to suggest Ms Clinton was having a seizure live on camera.

Lisa Lerer, who conducted the interview, wrote a column debunking the claims. Ms Lerer wrote in the Chicago Tribune that Ms Clinton was perhaps eager to avoid answering or was taken back by the volume of journalists in the press room. “Where I saw evasiveness, they saw seizures,” she wrote.

4 August 2016

The Infowars website, run by conservative conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, begins to publish stories about Ms Clinton’s alleged failing health and continues to throughout the month.

7 August 2016

Matt Drudge – another conservative blogger – posts a photo on Twitter of Ms Clinton being helped by aides after slipping on some stairs, alongside the words “Hillary conquers the stairs”.

The photo, as pointed out by Brian Stelter from CNN, is actually from February 24.

According to the BBC, Infowars claims the man helping Ms Clinton was her doctor and he is holding an injection pen used to treat seizures. It turned out it was just a torch.

8 August 2016

The National Enquirer, a US tabloid which has endorsed Mr Trump, runs a story entitled 'Hillary Clinton’s secret health crisis' and claims the candidate has had multiple strokes and suffered liver damage.

8 -11 August 2016

Fox News presenter Sean Hannity runs multiple segments on Ms Clinton’s health on his chat show. He claims she suffers from seizures and cites Ms Lerer’s interview as evidence. Medical experts on the show do not confirm his suspicions.

11-14 August 2016

CNN, the Washington Post and other outlets, debunk claims Ms Clinton has health problems. CNN’s Brian Stelter calls Hannity’s coverage “reckless”.

15 August 2016

In a speech, Mr Trump says Ms Clinton “lacks the physical and mental stamina” to serve as president and lead the fight against Isis.

16 August 2016

The Clinton campaign accuses opponents of “pushing a deranged conspiracy about Clinton’s health”. Her doctor, Dr Bardack, says: “Secretary Clinton is in excellent health and fit to serve as president of the United States,"

18 August 2016

The Drudge Report publishes images of Ms Clinton sitting in chairs with pillows, alongside a headline saying “Pillows for Hillary” and claims she was being propped up. Trump spokeswoman Katrina Pierson later claims Ms Clinton suffers from dysphasia - a neurological condition that affects a person’s speech - without citing any evidence.

6 September 2016

The Drudge Report continues its reporting of Ms Clinton’s health. This time it focuses on an episode of coughing that struck Ms Clinton at a rally in Ohio to suggest something has been wrong with her for months.

11 September 2016

Ms Clinton leaves a 9/11 service early due to overheating. Video footage seems to show Ms Clinton fainting, but her doctor says it is due to dehydration caused by recent pneumonia diagnosis.

Speculation surrounding her health starts up again. Under doctor’s orders, Ms Clinton cancels her trip to California. Commentators, including journalist Carl Bernstein, call on Ms Clinton to release her medical history, while Mr Trump says he will share his too.