Trump diagnosed with common vein condition

The White House released a Thursday memo sharing President Donald Trump’s recent diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency. The president’s physician, U.S. Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, discovered the condition after Trump reported mild swelling in his lower legs for several weeks. Barbabella described the condition as benign and common, specifically in patients over the age of 70. The president underwent diagnostic vascular studies and venous ultrasounds out of caution, the note said. He also underwent tests for blood count, a metabolic panel, a coagulation profile, and cardiac markers, all of which showed results within normal limits, the memo added.

Does this explain the bruising on Trump’s hands? Barbabella’s note added that the bruising to Trump’s hands seen in recent media images is merely soft tissue irritation. The irritation is a benign symptom of the president’s frequent handshakes and regimented use of aspirin for cardiovascular disease prevention, according to the memo. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the memo during her Thursday news conference, emphasizing that the president showed no signs of heart failure, renal impairment, or systemic illness. The president remains in excellent health, and the memo was released to maintain public transparency, she said.

Dig deeper: Read my previous report about the results of Trump’s annual physical in April.