Speculation about Donald Trump‘s whereabouts was rife over the long Labor Day weekend as the US President chose to stay low-key. While there have been concerns about his health following pictures of his hand bruises appearing online, social media took this to another level on Friday with the trends of “Trump Is Dead” and “Where Is Trump?”
As soon as the long weekend was over, the President on Tuesday, told Fox News’ Peter Doocy that he “was very active over the weekend.”. From playing golf, giving a few interviews, to posting some long truths on Truth Social, Trump remained busy during the extended weekend, unaware of the social media trend around his health.
Trump’s diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency was revealed around mid-July. Since then, the pictures of his bruised hand and swollen ankles have raised concern.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says the bruising was due to the President shaking hands all day, every day. The White House physician Sean Barbarella said in a note in July that the bruising was “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.”
What is chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)?
“Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a condition in which the veins in the legs do not return blood to the heart efficiently, causing it to pool in the lower legs. This can lead to swelling, pain, skin changes, or a heavy sensation in the legs,” says Dr Krishna Chaitanya, Lead Consultant – Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore.
The condition is common in older adults because, with age, the valves inside the veins that prevent blood from flowing backward may weaken or become damaged.
“CVI is most common in older adults because the valves in the veins weaken with age, as well as loss of elasticity and slowed circulation. CVI can negatively affect health by producing leg pain, heaviness, or fatigue and if not addressed through lifestyle changes or medical treatment, an increased risk of infection, or thrombosis,” says Dr. Sachin Mittal, Associate Clinical Director & HOD – Robotic, MI, Bariatric & General Surgery, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Faridabad.
Dr Chaitanya says other risk factors may include prolonged sitting or standing, being overweight, and having a history of vein problems.
Possible cause behind swelling in Trump’s ankles
While CVI is usually not life-threatening, it can cause discomfort, visible swelling, and fatigue in the legs.
“In Donald Trump’s case, doctors apparently reported mild swelling in his legs associated with CVI and ruled out more serious concerns such as blood clots or heart disease,” says Dr Chaitanya.
“Ankle swelling may often occur with decreased circulation or fluid retention or venous insufficiency as well,” says Dr Mittal.
Mystery behind bruises on Trump’s right hand
Experts note that bruises on Trump’s hand could be a combination of aspirin use, fragile skin, and normal effects of aging.
“Hand shaking doesn’t usually leave severe bruising, but if a person is on aspirin or has delicate skin, and they bump their hands even subtly, bruising or discoloration will occur,” says Dr Mittal.
“CVI can cause puffiness around the ankles. The bruises on his hand may be linked to age-related thinning of the skin along with the regular use of aspirin. Aspirin is commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots, but since it thins the blood, it also makes bruising occur more easily, even with minor bumps,” says Dr Chaitanya.
How CVI can be treated
“The common yet often overlooked problem affects millions worldwide. The risk increases with age, obesity, pregnancy, and prolonged standing. While it can seriously impact quality of life, timely diagnosis and treatments such as compression stockings, exercise, and in some cases surgery or minimally invasive procedures such as laser ablation can greatly improve outcomes,” says Dr. Aniruddha Kulkarni, Senior Director, Interventional and Vascular Radiology, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mumbai.