Donald Trump underwent testing after he noted “mild swelling in his lower legs,” but doctors determined that he had a “chronic venous insufficiency,” a common condition for individuals over 70, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday.
Reading a note from Trump’s physician, Leavitt was addressing speculation, particularly on social media, over the president’s appearance in recent weeks.
Others also have noticed bruising on the back of Trump’s hand, something that Leavitt said was “consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking, and the use of aspirin which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen. This is a well-known and benign side-effect of aspirin for therapy.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, chronic venous insufficiency is a condition when leg venins are damaged and it is more difficult for blood to move to a person’s heart. It is generally pretty common, and can be treated via compression therapy, leg elevation, exercise and weight management.
Leavitt said that there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease.
Leavitt said that Trump was evaluated by the White House medical unit “under an abundance of caution.” She said that he underwent diagnostic vascular studies. That was a bilateral lower extremity venous Doppler ultrasound, she said, which revealed the condition.
Trump, 79, was the oldest person elected to the presidency when he won a second term in November.
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