President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, the White House announced Thursday.
The condition is “benign and common” for people above age 70, U.S. Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, the president’s physician, wrote in a memo regarding the president’s health.
The 79-year-old president underwent a “comprehensive examination, including diagnostic vascular studies,” after he noticed mild swelling in his lower legs, the memo said.
The condition happens when veins in the leg struggle to get blood to flow back to the heart, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
In the memo, Barbabella specified that “there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or arterial disease,” and results from lab testing “were within normal limits.” Trump also underwent an echocardiogram, in which “no signs of heart failure, renal impairment, or systemic illness were identified.”
Barbabella also elaborated on recent photographs depicting minor bruising on the back of the president’s hand, saying “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.”
The physician noted that “President Trump remains in excellent health.” The memo did not detail any methods for treatment.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who read aloud the physician’s note at a Thursday briefing, said the mild swelling in Trump’s legs is not causing him any discomfort.
“No discomfort from the president at all, and you probably all see that on a day-to-day basis, he’s working around the clock,” she said.
