Washington [US], July 18: US President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency after a medical examination for swelling in his legs.
President Trump (79 years old) underwent a "comprehensive examination, including vascular diagnostic studies" with the White House Medical Unit , White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on June 17.
According to CNN, the White House later released a note from the president's physician Sean Barbabella, stating that "a bilateral lower extremity venous Doppler ultrasound was performed and revealed chronic venous insufficiency, a benign and common condition, especially in people over 70 years of age."
The test was carried out after Mr Trump had experienced "mild swelling in his lower leg" in recent weeks, Ms Leavitt said.
"Importantly, there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease" and President Trump's blood tests were "within normal limits," according to the doctor's letter. Trump also underwent an echocardiogram that revealed no signs of heart failure, kidney failure, or systemic disease.
Chronic venous insufficiency is a condition in which the valves inside some veins don't work properly, which can cause blood to pool in the veins, according to CNN. About 150,000 people are diagnosed with the condition each year in the United States, and the risk increases with age.
Symptoms may include swelling in the legs or ankles, pain or cramping in the legs, varicose veins, pain or changes in the skin. Treatment may include medication or, in later stages, medical procedures.
During the press conference, Ms. Leavitt added that the president "did not feel uncomfortable."
The press secretary also referred to bruises that appeared on the back of the president's hand, which were caused by "frequent handshakes" and aspirin use.
"This is consistent with mild soft tissue irritation from frequent handshakes and aspirin use as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen," Dr. Barbabella's letter said. The White House physician concluded that "President Trump remains in excellent health."
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
