President Donald Trump has been recognized with a situation that causes blood to pool in his legs after he was examined for “gentle swelling in his decrease legs,” White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Thursday.
At a press briefing, Leavitt stated Trump was recognized with power venous insufficiency, a “benign” situation frequent in individuals over the age of 70. The president is 79.
Observe-up exams discovered no proof of a severe or life-threatening situation like deep vein thrombosis, she stated, however they did result in a prognosis of power venous insufficiency.
What’s power venous insufficiency?
Usually, oxygen-rich blood is pumped all around the physique, together with all through the legs and arms. Veins then ship that blood again to the center to reoxygenate.
Generally, veins within the legs grow to be broken and may’t handle to return that blood in addition to they need to, in accordance with the Cleveland Clinic. When that occurs, blood settles within the legs, resulting in a situation known as power venous insufficiency.
Sufferers can expertise swelling, ache and pores and skin discoloration. Generally, ulcers develop.
The situation itself is frequent, affecting an estimated 1 in 20 adults, often over age 50. Dr. Lee Kirksey, a vascular surgeon on the Cleveland Clinic, stated it’s not life-threatening.
It does, nevertheless, “elevate a yellow flag for us to take a look at underlying points, whether or not it’s physique weight or whether or not it’s a sedentary life-style,” Kirksey stated.
Based on Trump’s April 2025 bodily, his coronary heart operate is regular and “blood stream to his extremities is unimpaired.” His newest bodily additionally says he’s 6-foot-3 and weighs 239 kilos, which signifies he’s chubby, in accordance with the NIH BMI Calculator. Being chubby or overweight is a danger issue for power venous insufficiency.
How is power venous insufficiency handled?
Dr. Aaron Aday, co-director of vascular medication at Vanderbilt College Medical Middle in Nashville, stated the secret’s to work these leg veins to get them pumping once more.
“After we stroll, the muscle tissue in our ft and our legs squeeze our veins that assist pump blood again to the center,” Aday stated. “If you happen to’re sitting or standing, say, on a aircraft journey or a desk job, that stress can construct up, inflicting achiness and heaviness within the legs.”
There’s no particular therapy for power venous insufficiency. Sporting compression stockings and elevating legs may be useful, specialists stated.
Blood thinners also can assist forestall blood clots from forming. Trump takes aspirin, a blood thinner, in accordance with his medical information.
Neither Kirksey nor Aday is concerned with Trump’s care.
On Thursday, the president’s doctor, Dr. Sean Barbabella, stated in a memo that “President Trump stays in wonderful well being.”
