President Trump has varicose veins

The White House said on July 17 that US President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with a common and benign vein condition, following widespread speculation about his bruised hands and swollen legs.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump, 79, who became the oldest president in US history when he took office in January, has “chronic venous insufficiency.”

Leavitt added that the visible discoloration on his right hand was due to “tissue irritation from frequent handshakes” and the use of aspirin as a standard cardiovascular treatment.

The White House also released a letter from the president’s personal physician, Sean Barbabella, confirming that Trump “remains in excellent health.”

Leavitt said Trump “recently noticed some mild swelling in his lower legs,” and that he was examined by White House physicians “out of an abundance of caution.”

The ultrasound showed that he had “chronic venous insufficiency, a benign condition that is common, especially in people over 70,” Leavitt said. It involves damage to the veins in the legs, preventing blood from circulating effectively.

She added that Trump requested the information be released “for transparency.”

Internist Matt Heinz of Tucson, Arizona, told AFP that chronic venous insufficiency is “quite common,” especially in older people, and is caused by ineffective valves in the veins.

“Age, gravity, and obesity are also risk factors,” he said. “However, I understand the president is losing weight, so that may help.”

The White House insisted that the condition did not pose a serious threat to Trump’s health, stressing that “there is no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease.”

“The president has normal cardiac structure and function, with no evidence of heart failure, renal failure, or systemic disease,” Leavitt added.

Given Trump’s condition, Dr. Heinz said it would likely be treated with compression stockings, exercise, and possibly weight loss, rather than requiring invasive intervention such as a prosthetic valve.

“The swelling could be a sign of more serious conditions such as heart disease, but I don’t have the specific information to confirm that,” he noted.