Donald Trump underwent a full vascular workup on the White Home after noticing swelling in his legs, resulting in a prognosis of persistent venous insufficiency, a situation widespread in older adults, in accordance with a letter launched Thursday (July 17) by his doctor.

The 79-year-old had a “complete examination, together with diagnostic vascular research,” White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, studying instantly from a memo written by Capt. Sean Barbabella, Trump’s physician. The letter confirmed that “bilateral decrease extremity venous Doppler ultrasounds had been carried out and revealed persistent venous insufficiency, a benign and customary situation, significantly in people over the age of 70.”

The analysis adopted Trump’s report of “delicate swelling in his decrease legs” over the previous few weeks, Leavitt stated. Regardless of the prognosis, Barbabella famous there was “no proof of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or arterial illness,” and all lab outcomes had been “inside regular limits.” Trump additionally had an echocardiogram, which confirmed “no indicators of coronary heart failure, renal impairment, or systemic sickness.”

Power venous insufficiency happens when vein valves within the legs don’t operate correctly, inflicting blood to pool. It impacts roughly 150,000 individuals yearly, with threat rising with age. Signs might embrace swelling, aching, varicose veins or pores and skin modifications. Remedy ranges from treatment to surgical procedures in additional superior instances.

“This can be a fairly regular a part of growing older, and particularly for somebody within the chubby to overweight class, which is the place the president has at all times been,” stated Dr. Jeremy Faust, an emergency medication professor at Harvard Medical Faculty, in an interview with CNN. “However the larger concern … is that signs like this do have to be evaluated for extra severe situations, and that’s what occurred.”

Heart specialist Dr. Bernard Ashby instructed CNN that whereas the prognosis isn’t instantly worrisome, it might be an indication of one thing extra.

“Though he’s identified with a benign situation, venous insufficiency, by itself doesn’t essentially imply it’s benign,” Ashby stated. “The query is, what’s inflicting the venous insufficiency?”

Ashby praised the medical group for “protecting all their bases” by ruling out coronary heart failure and different associated points. Dr. Chris Pernell, a public well being doctor, added that age, weight and a sedentary way of life are all contributing elements.

“If an individual is older, an individual is chubby, an individual isn’t participating in common bodily exercise or train, if an individual is sitting or standing for extended quantities of time, you will get persistent venous insufficiency,” she stated. “And whereas it’s not life-threatening, it may be debilitating.”

Leavitt additionally addressed seen bruising on the again of Trump’s hand, attributing it to “frequent handshaking” and his use of aspirin. Barbabella confirmed within the letter, “That is in step with minor comfortable tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the usage of aspirin, which is taken as a part of a normal cardiovascular prevention routine.”

The letter concluded with a clear invoice of well being: “President Trump stays in wonderful well being.” Trump turns 80 subsequent month and can then be the oldest U.S. president in historical past.

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