Trump Diagnosed With Chronic Venous Insufficiency, White House Says
Doctors of the White House diagnosed President Donald Trump with chronic venous insufficiency after noticing swelling in his legs, the White House announced on Thursday.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt told journalists that Trump, 79, had recently undergone tests to examine swelling, which included diagnostic vascular studies and ultrasound of her legs, revealing the venous condition.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, chronic venous insufficiency occurs when the veins of the legs find it difficult to allow the blood to go up towards the heart, often following valves damaged in the veins. The condition affects approximately 1 out of 20 adults.
Dr. Ali Azizzadeh, professor and director of vascular surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, said in time that the condition is “a very common diagnosis, and it is not dangerous”, “
“It is more than it bothers the patient, with regard to swelling and pain and discomfort,” he said, adding that this is not a condition that may have an impact on Trump’s life expectancy.
Leavitt provided the update of health in the middle of online speculation on the swelling visible around Trump’s ankles and bruises on his hands, the latter, which she said, was attributable to her “frequent tips and the use of aspirin”.
Although chronic venous insufficiency does not put life in danger, according to the Cleveland Clinic, it can lead to serious complications if it is not treated, including leg ulcers, pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis and secondary lymphedema. There is no cure for the disease, but compression therapy and exercise can help manage symptoms.
Find out more: What is chronic venous insufficiency?
Leavitt said that the tests examined by his doctor, Dr. Sean Barbabella were found no evidence of deep venous thrombosis or arterial disease and an echocardiogram showed normal heart structure and function. The doctor wrote in a memo shared with journalists after the briefing that all test results were “within normal limits” and that an echocardiogram showed “a normal cardiac structure and function”.
“President Trump remains in excellent health,” wrote Barbabella in memo.
Leavitt added that Trump feels no discomfort of the conditions.
Trump suffered his annual physique at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in April. A report by his doctor revealed that the president was “in excellent health” at the time, according to the White House.
—Aangela Haupt contributed the reports.
