Latest news with #venousinsufficiency
Forbes
18-07-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Trump Diagnosed With Vein Disorder. A Doctor Explains
From left: First lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and his ... More wife Leena Al Ashqar watch the second half of the Club World Cup final soccer match between Chelsea and PSG in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) President Trump was just diagnosed with venous insufficiency. He had noticed swelling in his legs, prompting an examination by his physician, Sean Barbabella. The doctor reported that Trump was otherwise well, with no serious cardiovascular problems or blood clots. Recurrent bruising of his hand was dismissed as simply due to handshaking. Chronic venous insufficiency means that the veins that carry blood back to the heart aren't working well. One-way valves in the legs may become damaged with age, causing blood to pool in the legs and leading to visible swelling. CVI becomes more common as people get older and, according to the Cleveland Clinic, affects one in twenty adults. Early on, people may have no symptoms or only a mild feeling of heaviness. The swelling may go down fairly readily if the legs are elevated. As the condition worsens, the legs may become more visibly discolored, with the development of 'spider veins,' or varicose veins. When the pressure in the legs increases further, tiny capillary vessels can rupture and leak fluid, resulting in a more woody texture and brown discoloration. At this stage, poorly healing ulcers can develop from minor abrasions. This is when an infectious disease physician, like myself, might get involved, as these ulcers can take months to heal. If the infection spreads further into the tissue, it is called cellulitis, and it can become life-threatening, especially with the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Who Is At Risk For Venous Insufficiency The risk rises with age. Having a prior blood clot, which causes tissue damage and swelling, is the other major risk, as is obesity. These are also risk factors for other cardiovascular disease, so your doctor should check that your peripheral arteries aren't blocked and that you don't have heart disease. Physical examination and ultrasound can detect peripheral vascular disease (blood vessel disease in your extremities). Prevention Try to keep your legs from swelling if possible, by not sitting or standing all day. If you have a job that prevents that, then it's good to wear compression stockings. Some you can buy over the counter; others require a prescription and are custom fitted to you. Obesity, smoking, wearing tight, restrictive clothes around your torso, and lack of exercise are the other risk factors you have some control over. Swollen, edematous legs are more susceptible to infection. It's essential to pay attention to and care for your feet. Athlete's foot, in particular, is often overlooked by patients and physicians, but can lead to terrible cellulitis. Treatment Reducing swelling is critical in preventing ulceration and worsening disease. The first step is to elevate your legs at least several times a day, and as much as possible when not working. Gentle leg exercises and walking can help pump blood back to your heart. Improving blood return is especially important if you are sitting for a long time, as on a plane. Exercise your legs, even while seated, by frequently flexing and extending your legs and feet. Compression stockings should be put on before getting out of bed in the morning and worn all day. If symptoms worsen, pneumatic compression stockings might be prescribed to mechanically pump fluid out of your legs. These are expensive and not available to many. At Mahidol Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, I observed patients using a 'twisting tourniquet' technique, which involves repetitively wrapping Ace wraps and around a broomstick to tighten the wrap, then releasing it. It was remarkably effective, but required very motivated patients who actively participated in their care. If ulcers develop, the first step is often an Unna boot, a compression stocking impregnated with a zinc oxide gel. Further progression to cellulitis likely involves treatment with oral or intravenous antibiotics. Hand Bruises WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 24: Makeup covers a bruise on the back of U.S. President Donald Trump's ... More hand as he hosts French President Emmanuel Macron for meetings at the White House on February 24, 2025 in Washington, DC. Macron is meeting with Trump in Washington on the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale military invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by) Trump was seen again this week with a large bruise on his hand. Similar bruises were noted in December, February, April, and June. Bruising like this is not related to venous insufficiency. A memo from Barbabella said, "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.' He concluded that the President 'is in excellent health.' These explanations are highly unlikely. Normal handshaking does not typically cause bruising. It is doubtful that it would happen to him repeatedly. Trump is a self-described germaphobe, reluctant to engage in handshakes, though they are a political necessity. Trump has long been known for his aggressive handshakes, viewed 'as a struggle for dominance.' On one occasion, for example, he left French President Emmanuel Macron's knuckles white. In photos, Trump's bruises look like those caused by intravenous catheters. Other possibilities include actinic purpura from excessive sun exposure or a vasculitis. His bruises look different than those latter two possibilities typically do. Barbabella's memo is odd, stating that aspirin is 'standard cardiovascular prevention regimen.' That's not quite accurate. Daily aspirin is recommended for secondary prevention—that is, for someone who has known heart disease, to prevent a heart attack or stroke. If you don't have known disease, the benefits of aspirin is debated. Aspirin use carries significant risks. For example, aspirin use increases overall GI bleeding risk by 60%. In fact, 'the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends against initiating low-dose aspirin use for the primary prevention of CVD in adults 60 years or older.' This position against aspirin is also 'consistent with the most recent guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, and the European Society of Cardiology.' Why is Trump on aspirin? Implications It's unclear if the White House is minimizing problems with the President's health. The venous insufficiency is unsurprising given Trump's age, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle. If he stumbles again, as he did in June, and were to hit his head, he risks a brain bleed, which could leave him with serious neurologic deficits. If he takes care of himself, his venous insufficiency could be controlled with things like compression stockings. If he doesn't, then he could face a host of complications, some of which could be serious enough to compromise his presidency.
NHK
18-07-2025
- Health
- NHK
Trump diagnosed with venous insufficiency, but not serious health problem
0The White House says US President Donald Trump has received a medical checkup, and that he has venous insufficiency, but remains in "excellent health." In a news conference Thursday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency. Leavitt said he underwent a comprehensive examination after noticing swelling in his lower legs in recent weeks. She said the condition is common in individuals over the age of 70. Trump turned 79 in June. Leavitt also said Trump's bruises on the back of his hand was caused by frequent handshaking, and the use of aspirin, which he takes for prevention against cardiovascular disease. She said the exam results showed "no signs of heart failure, renal impairment or systemic illness." Leavitt also released the physician's memorandum of the diagnosis. She said, "The President remains in excellent health, which I think all of you witness on a daily basis here." She stressed that Trump wanted to release the memorandum "in the effort of transparency." Former US President Joe Biden, who was 78 when he was sworn in, announced in May that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, which had spread to his bones. But Trump questioned the timing of the announcement as it was made after Biden had already left office.
Washington Post
17-07-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency. Here's what it means.
President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency — a condition that develops when valves in the leg veins malfunction, leading to blood collecting in the legs. It is a common condition, but severe cases can lead to complications, doctors said. In some cases, chronic venous insufficiency can be a sign of a more serious condition such as problems with the heart, liver or kidneys, said Alisha Oropallo, a vascular surgeon at Northwell Health and a professor of surgery at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra University who wrote a 2022 review on managing the condition. Chronic venous insufficiency 'is not dangerous per se, but it can lead to long-term complications if left untreated, namely ulcerations, severe leg swelling that can be pretty debilitating for some people,' said Thomas Maldonado, medical director of the Venous Thromboembolic Center at NYU Langone Health. Anywhere from 10 to 30 percent of Americans will have 'some form' of chronic venous insufficiency over the course of their life, he said. We asked physicians about symptoms, including swelling, risk factors and treatment for chronic venous insufficiency. Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when there is high pressure in the veins, which are the blood vessels that recirculate blood from the body back to the heart. Veins have one-way valves that prevent blood from flowing backward, but the pressure can cause the valves to weaken and become 'leaky,' Maldonado said, leading to blood pooling in the legs. 'They're delicate little valves, almost like little tissue paper, one-way valves, that catch the blood as it tries to reflux back down to the ankles,' he said. Chronic venous insufficiency is 'a dysfunction in the valves of your veins,' Oropallo said. Symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency include aching, throbbing or a feeling of fatigue in the legs, said Chelsea Dorsey, the director of the Vein Clinic at UChicago Medicine. Swelling, skin discoloration and varicose veins are other signs, experts said. 'The valves become incompetent, and then over time the red blood cells leak from the veins into the skin and they turn from the oxidation of the air, they turn from a red color to a brownish hue in the skin ... tattooing the skin dark' and becoming permanent, Oropallo said. Chronic venous insufficiency is not dangerous for most individuals, Dorsey said, but 'in some patients with more advanced stages of the condition, they can be more prone to skin infections or may develop difficult to heal ulcers.' The condition also puts some people at 'increased risk for developing blood clots,' she said. Chronic venous insufficiency could also be an indication of problems in the heart, kidneys or liver in some people, Olopallo said. 'The veins bring the blood back into the heart, and any kind of obstruction or pressure to the area could cause or create a backflow problem,' Oropallo said. When blood cannot get back up to the heart, it can 'cause pressure on the healthy veins and cause them to become diseased.' she said. 'There's a big genetic component to this,' Maldonado said. Some people are at a higher risk of developing it, and varicose veins, because of family history, he said. And the condition is more prevalent as people age. 'It's really one of these insidious diseases that can creep up as we age,' Maldonado said. Pregnant people and individuals who are overweight are also at increased risk of the condition. Other risk factors include a history of blood clots and spending long periods of time on one's feet, the experts said. People who stand a lot for work, such as nurses, physicians and teachers, or those who do prolonged sitting, such as bus drivers, are 'more likely to get venous insufficiency,' Oropallo said. 'And this can also cause, with the lack of movement, blood clots.' A history of blood clots can damage those valves and then later on lead to this chronic venous insufficiency, she said. 'Most people experience these changes over decades. It doesn't just happen in one day,' Oropallo said. Regular use of compression stockings, leg elevation, exercise and weight loss can help with the condition, the experts said. 'In circumstances where someone's symptoms are impacting their quality of life, some minimally invasive procedures may be effective to close the veins in the legs that are not functioning well in an effort to 're-route' the blood flow to a more efficient path,' Dorsey said in an email. Early screening is important, Oropallo said. If someone has symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, heaviness or fatigue in the legs, they can 'ask if the compression stockings are right for them or if they need a subsequent ultrasound,' she said. The condition can be detected with an ultrasound, called a venous reflux study, which assesses 'the incompetence of the veins,' Oropallo said. 'Lifestyle plays a significant role, not just genetics, but a healthy lifestyle like regular exercise, maintaining healthy weight, and avoiding that prolonged immobility can help and prevent or manage the chronic venous insufficiency as well,' she said.
Washington Post
17-07-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
Trump diagnosis is rare acknowledgement of president's health concerns
The White House on Thursday said that President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with a mild but chronic illness related to his age — a rare admission from one of the nation's oldest presidents who has long sought to project vigor. Trump has chronic venous insufficiency, the White House physician said in a memorandum, a condition in which the legs have trouble delivering blood back to the heart. In an afternoon press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the diagnosis as 'a benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70.' She introduced the issue after images circulated online this week of Trump with swollen legs at the FIFA World Cup and a bruised hand caked in makeup, prompting swarms of internet users to speculate that his administration was covering up a health crisis. Trump rose to power a second time in part by drawing contrast to the mental and physical health of his predecessor, former president Joe Biden, and accusing his administration of concealing a cognitive decline. Now 79 years old, Trump has released a series of glowing medical letters about his health, repeatedly boasted about acing a cognitive test that he said was administered to him during his first term, and gone out of his way to flex his stamina with photos of golf outings and long, rousing speeches to his supporters. As he has sought to project strength, Trump during both his 2020 and 2024 campaigns frequently raised questions about Biden's stamina, routinely referring to him with nicknames such as 'Sleepy Joe.' He also cast Biden as dishonest about his health — a charge embraced by his base that Trump continues to stoke while in office with investigations into what Biden's aides knew about the former president's mental acuity. Leavitt told reporters during the press briefing that the president noticed 'mild swelling' in his lower legs and received an exam by the White House medical unit. She said the bruising on the back of his hands 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 regiment.' Some people are at a higher risk of developing chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and varicose veins due to their family history, said Thomas Maldonado, medical director of the Venous Thromboembolic Center at NYU Langone Health. Pregnant people and individuals who are overweight are also at increased risk of the condition. CVI can also be caused by sitting or standing for long periods of time. Symptoms of CVI include aching, throbbing or a feeling of fatigue in the legs, said Chelsea Dorsey, the director of the Vein Clinic at UChicago Medicine. Swelling, skin discoloration and varicose veins are other signs, she said. Chronic cases can lead to complications, and in some cases, CVI can be a sign of a more serious condition such as problems with the heart, liver or kidneys, doctors said. Leavitt said Trump's doctor, Sean Barbabella, found no evidence of arterial disease, heart failure or other systemic illnesses. He provided the diagnosis in a memorandum sent Thursday, according to the document shared by the White House. In April, Barbabella pronounced Trump, the oldest person to be sworn in as U.S. president, 'fully fit' to execute the duties of the presidency. Teddy Amenabar and Richard Sima contributed to this report.
CTV News
17-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Trump diagnosed with vein condition causing leg swelling, White House says
President Donald Trump is seen leaving after signing the "Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act," during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) U.S. President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with a 'common' vein condition after being evaluated by his doctor over swelling in his lower legs, the White House said on Thursday. Reading a letter from Trump's physician, Leavitt said at a press briefing that an ultrasound on the president's legs 'revealed chronic venous insufficiency ... a common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70.' Leavitt said there was 'no evidence' of more serious conditions such as deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease. Additional exams identified 'no signs of heart failure, renal impairment or systemic illness,' Leavitt said. Leavitt said Trump was not experiencing discomfort due to the condition. According to the National Library of Health's MedlinePlus website, 'Venous insufficiency is a condition in which the veins have problems sending blood from the legs back to the heart.' The condition 'tends to get worse over time' but 'can be managed if treatment is started in the early stated stages,' the website says. Leavitt also said that Trump had experienced bruising on the back of his hand. She described this as '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.' Reporting by Steve Holland; writing by Christian Martinez; editing by Susan Heavey.
