By President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common and non-serious vein condition, after noticing swelling in his legs, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. The announcement came Thursday during a press briefing, following days of speculation prompted by photos taken at the Club World Cup final in New Jersey on July 13, which appeared to show swelling in the president’s ankles.
Reading from a note provided by the president’s physician, Leavitt said Trump, 79, was “thoroughly evaluated” by the White House medical unit “out of an abundance of caution” after he raised concerns in recent weeks. “The president underwent a comprehensive examination, including diagnostic vascular studies,” she said. “Bilateral lower extremity venous Doppler ultrasounds were performed, and reformed chronic venous insufficiency, a benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70.”
CNN explained that Chronic venous insufficiency is a condition in which valves inside certain veins don’t work the way they should, which can allow some of the blood to pool or collect in the veins. About 150,000 people are diagnosed with it each year, and the risk goes up with age. Symptoms can include swelling in the lower legs or ankles, aching or cramping in the legs, varicose veins, pain or skin changes. Treatment may involve medication or, in later stages, medical procedures.
“It’s basically not alarming information, and it’s not surprising,” said Dr. Jeremy Faust, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Harvard Medical School.
“This is a pretty normal part of aging, and especially for someone in the overweight to obese category, which is where the president has always been. But the bigger concern … is that symptoms like this do need to be evaluated for more serious conditions, and that is what happened.”
Leavitt later added that the president was experiencing “no discomfort.” She deferred to a forthcoming letter from Barbabella regarding treatment for the condition.
The president’s appearance at the soccer final, where he was photographed alongside First Lady Melania Trump, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and Infantino’s wife, Leena Al Ashqar, had prompted scrutiny after the images revealed noticeable puffiness around Trump’s ankles.
Leavitt also addressed minor bruising observed on the president’s hand, explaining, “This is 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.”
The White House reiterated that President Trump remains in “excellent overall health” and intends to release the physician’s letter in full. Officials characterized the diagnosis as a routine, age-related condition with no implications for the president’s ability to carry out his duties.
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