Latest news with #chronicvenousinsufficiency
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Tuberville says Trump health issues exacerbated by ‘fighting the radicals'
After President Trump was diagnosed with a chronic vein condition, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) suggested the president's health condition could be a result of his efforts in 'fighting the radicals.' 'The pressure on somebody like President Trump right now, not just from outside entities … all over the world but also fighting the radicals in this country,' Tuberville said during a Sunday interview with radio host John Catsimatidis on WABC 770 AM's 'The Cats Roundtable. 'Every day it's almost like a fistfight.' The White House announced Thursday that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition where leg veins have difficulty sending blood back to the heart. It often results in ankle swelling and is common in people over the age of 70. On the show, Tuberville repeated baseless claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Trump and claimed that illegal immigrants were voting in droves for Democrats. Tuberville also bashed Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor. 'He's a communist! No police? Are you kidding me?' the Alabama senator exclaimed. Mamdani called for defunding the police in 2020, but vowed not to do so during a June debate. He identifies as a Democratic socialist. Catsimatidis is leading a coalition of wealthy business leaders to back Mayor Eric Adams' bid for re-election as a way to oppose Mamdani, Politico reported in June. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Sky News
21 hours ago
- Health
- Sky News
What is chronic venous insufficiency? Symptoms and treatment after Trump diagnosed
US President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, the White House has confirmed. The president, 79, underwent a medical check-up after noticing "mild swelling" in his lower legs and was found to have the condition - which is common in older adults and causes blood to pool in the veins. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the diagnosis after concerns had been raised over recent photos, which showed bruising on the back of Mr Trump's hand that had been covered with make-up. Ms Leavitt said it was unrelated to the vein condition and was instead irritation from the president's "frequent handshaking" and use of aspirin. Mr Trump is said to take aspirin to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Mr Trump once described himself as "the healthiest president that's ever lived". The decision to disclose details of his medical check-up was intended to dispel speculation about his health. It comes as former president Joe Biden was repeatedly criticised by Republicans and opponents over his fitness to lead in light of a number of verbal gaffes towards the end of his term. He has since been diagnosed with prostate cancer. What is chronic venous insufficiency? Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) occurs when little valves inside the veins that normally ensure proper blood flow back to the heart gradually lose the ability to work properly. The valves are especially important in the legs, where gravity works against the upward movement of blood, hence why CVI primarily affects the legs. In a note released to reporters, White House physician Captain Sean Barbabella said the condition is "benign and common", particularly in individuals over the age of 70. Symptoms can include varicose veins, pain, cramps, itching, hyperpigmentation, chronic swelling of the legs and ankles, and leg ulcers. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, CVI risks include being overweight, a family history of the condition, and previous leg damage or blood clots. Other causes include standing or sitting for long periods, smoking, and deep vein thrombosis. 👉 Follow Trump100 on your podcast app 👈 What did Trump's physician say? Dr Barbabella said after Mr Trump reported "mild swelling" in his lower legs, the concern was "thoroughly evaluated" by the White House medical unit "out of an abundance of caution". In his statement, the physician said the president underwent a "comprehensive examination" that revealed CVI, which he described as a "benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70". Dr Barbabella noted: "Importantly, there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or arterial disease." Laboratory testing also showed "normal cardiac structure and function". Dr Barbabella said: "No signs of heart failure, renal impairment, or systemic illness were identified." The bruising on the back of Mr Trump's hand was said to be "minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen". In summary, Dr Barbabella stated: "President Trump remains in excellent health." What can Mr Trump do? Press secretary Ms Leavitt said the condition was not causing the president any discomfort. "The president remains in excellent health, which I think all of you witness on a daily basis here," she told reporters on Thursday. Ms Leavitt would not discuss how Mr Trump was treating the condition and suggested those details would be in the doctor's letter, which was later released to the public. However, the letter was the same as what she had read and failed to include any additional details. Those with CVI are often advised to lose weight, walk for exercise, and elevate their legs periodically. Wearing custom-made, medical-grade compression stockings can also help to manage the condition.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The White House Says Trump Has Been Diagnosed With Chronic Venous Insufficiency. Here's What That Means.
This week, the White House answered two questions many people have been asking: Why are Donald Trump's legs and ankles swollen? And why is there a bruise on his hand that's often covered by makeup? The answer? First, the leg swelling is due to chronic venous insufficiency, which White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described as a 'benign and common condition.' The bruise on his hand is unrelated and due to hand shaking and the use of aspirin, the White House said in a memo. 'It's very rare for people to get chronic venous insufficiency in the arms, and so it's unlikely that the skin discoloration is due to varicose vein[s] or the chronic venous insufficiency issue,' said Dr. Hugh Pabarue, a physician and vein specialist at Metro Vein Centers in Michigan. As we age, our skin thins and blood vessels become more easily exposed, so an accidental hand bump against the table can lead to easier bruising, Pabarue noted. But, once again, that isn't the same thing as chronic venous insufficiency. Doctors say there are a few things you should know about chronic venous insufficiency in addition to Trump's visible leg-swelling issue. Here's what to know: Blood flow issues are at the center of chronic venous insufficiency. Dr. Alexa Mieses Malchuk, a family physician in North Carolina, said chronic venous insufficiency is common, especially as folks age. To understand what chronic venous insufficiency is, it's important to understand how arteries and veins work, said Mieses Malchuk. 'And there's one big, important difference between them, and that's that arteries will actively pump blood around the body,' she said. 'Veins, on the other hand, do not pump blood, which surprises a lot of people because many people know that the veins do carry blood,' Mieses Malchuk added. The way blood is carried through veins is more of a passive process — movements such as walking and muscle flexing put pressure on the veins and that pressure 'pushes the blood back up to our heart,' she said. Then, our valves come in to keep the blood from flowing backward, she added. In the case of venous insufficiency, the veins get too relaxed and the valves almost get floppy, she explained. 'So, instead of blood being pushed back up to the heart, it can flow backwards. It could even stay stagnant in the veins,' she said. This is something that commonly happens with age. The valves wear out with time, said Pabarue. 'What ends up happening is blood comes down through the arteries OK, but then going back through the veins, it's very slow because those valves are no longer helping to push the blood out,' Pabarue said. After a day of sitting or standing for long periods, gravity then holds that blood in our legs, he added. Symptoms include leg swelling, which was reported in Trump, among other things. When blood accumulates in our veins, they 'stretch out, and as they enlarge, they can push on the structures around [them] — muscles, nerves,' explained Pabarue. According to Pabarue, folks with chronic venous insufficiency may report leg cramps, a feeling of leg heaviness, itching, burning, skin discoloration on the legs or, as in the case of Trump, leg swelling. 'Those are the biggest symptoms associated with vein problems,' Pabarue noted. Usually, these symptoms aren't as noticeable in the morning, but as the day goes on and blood accumulates in the legs, the discomfort starts. 'So, generally, this is a progressive problem [and] will continue to get worse if we don't do anything about it,' he said. How it appears is a spectrum. 'When we talk about venous insufficiency, it's actually a spectrum of disease,' explained Mieses Malchuk. For some people, the condition shows up as varicose veins, although not all varicose veins are chronic venous insufficiency, she added. For others, the symptoms are more severe. 'Many people have it [and] they know they have it, and they live totally normal lives,' Mieses Malchuk said Others have symptoms that disrupt their daily functioning, she noted. In this case, they may need to see a vascular doctor for treatment and even surgery, Mieses Malchuk added. 'I just want to highlight that it's a spectrum of disease that has varying symptoms depending on how far along they are,' she said. Things like compression socks and exercise can help prevent chronic venous insufficiency. Chronic venous insufficiency is a common condition as folks age, but certain people are at higher risk. 'For example, obesity, older age, smoking ... if you stand a lot, so, for example, nurses, doctors, hair stylists, people who work in retail who spend their life standing, are definitely at risk,' noted Mieses Malchuk. It's also more common during pregnancy, said Pabarue. Those who are at higher risk should consider wearing compression socks to help decrease their chances of developing chronic venous insufficiency, said Mieses Malchuk. 'By wearing compression socks, you're applying pressure in the right direction in your lower extremities so that it's much easier for the blood to get back up to your heart,' she explained. Pabarue added that it's good if the compression socks are at least knee-high, but thigh-high is even better. You should also make sure you're in the right size socks, which can be deciphered by measuring your calf, Mieses Malchuk noted. It's also helpful to manage your weight and exercise regularly, said Pabarue. 'Because obesity tends to cause premature vein problems,' Pabarue added. If you do notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, 'it doesn't hurt to get checked out,' Pabarue said. 'What I would recommend is seeing either your primary care [doctor] and discussing it with them, or seeking out a vein specialist or vascular surgeon to discuss options and at least get a baseline screening,' he noted. The longer you wait, the more complicated it is to treat, Pabarue noted. Related... White House Just Confirmed That Trump's Bruises Stem From This Medical Condition Trump Calls His Critics 'Haters' And 'Bad People' — Here's Why That's A Red Flag Fox News Reporter Finally Asks Karoline Leavitt What We're All Thinking About 'Epstein Hoax' Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Doctors reveal why Trump's vein condition may deteriorate faster than White House says
President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with a vein condition that explains recent photos showing his ankles looking unusually swollen. The President has chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), where veins in the legs struggle to send blood back to the heart, causing it to pool.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Trump diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency. What is CVI and is it dangerous?
President Donald Trump was recently diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency that has resulted in swelling of his legs and bruising on his hands, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced. Leavitt discussed Trump's diagnosis at a July 17 briefing with reporters after Trump underwent medical tests to examine swelling in his legs near his ankles and bruising on the back of the president's right hand. The ankle swelling is related to the venous disease, which Leavitt called a "common condition" for individuals over the age of 70. Trump is 79. According to Bloomberg, White House doctors still determined Trump to be in "excellent health," and there were no signs of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease. Here's what to know about the disease, symptoms, treatment and more. What is chronic venous insufficiency? Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when the leg veins don't allow blood to flow back up to the heart, causing it instead to flow backward, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The blood instead pools in the legs, causing pain. What are chronic venous insufficiency symptoms? Symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency including swelling in the legs or ankles, a tight feeling in the calves or itchy, painful legs and pain when walking that relieves when at rest, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Other symptoms include: Brown-colored skin, often near the ankles Varicose veins Leg ulcers Discomfort in the legs or an urge to move the legs (restless legs syndrome) Painful leg cramps or muscle spasms (charley horse) Chronic venous insufficiency causes People are more likely to develop chronic venous insufficiency if they are overweight, pregnant, have a family history or had prior damage to the leg due to surgery, injury or blood clots, Johns Hopkins says. Other causes could be the following: High blood pressure in the leg veins due to excessive sitting or standing Lack of exercise Smoking A blood clot in a deep vein Swelling and inflammation of a vein close to the skin What is chronic venous insufficiency treatment? Healthcare providers determine a treatment plan for chronic venous insufficiency based on the person's age, overall health and medical history, often involving elevating the legs, wearing compression socks and adding in regular exercise. Other treatments may involve medications to increase blood flow and endovenous laser ablation or radiofrequency ablation (involving a tube inserted into affected vein to close it off). Serious cases may involve surgery, specifically tying off the affected vein to stop blood flow, or sclerotherapy, where a chemical is injected to "scar" the vein to stop carrying blood. Chronic venous insufficiency life expectancy: Is it dangerous? Chronic venous insufficiency is not a serious health threat, Johns Hopkins says. The Cleveland Clinic further adds that it's a progressive disease that can cause discomfort, pain and reduced quality of life. Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. This article originally appeared on Trump has chronic vein insufficiency. Can you die? What causes CVI? Solve the daily Crossword
