Following the discovery of edema on his legs, Donald Trump disclosed that he had been diagnosed with a chronic illness that affected his veins.

The 79-year-old has been frequently pictured with swollen ankles and bruised hands in recent months, which has sparked speculation about the health of the US leader.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had previously dismissed worries about Trump’s health, citing “frequent handshaking” as the reason for the president’s symptoms back in February.

However, Trump has been subjected to additional medical examination because of the persistent bruises on his hands and signs of ankle swelling.

Leavitt has now come clean about President Trump’s health, stating that he has chronic venous insufficiency, a common and benign ailment.

At a news conference earlier today (July 17), Leavitt provided the update, stating that Trump had undergone a number of medical tests to determine the origin of the bruise on the back of his right hand and the swelling in his legs.

“The president underwent a comprehensive examination, including diagnostic vascular studies. Bilateral lower extremity venous Doppler ultrasounds were performed, and reformed chronic venous insufficiency, a benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70,” Leavitt told reporters.

“Importantly, there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease.”

She continued by saying that the president had received more laboratory testing, which included cardiac tests, a complete blood count, and a comprehensive metabolic profile.

She went on to say, “All results were within normal limits,”

What is chronic venous insufficiency?

Chronic venous insufficiency is a disorder that affects the flow of blood to the heart by damaging the veins in the leg, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Varicose veins, edema (lower leg swelling), and a heavy or full sensation in the legs are signs of chronic venous insufficiency.

People over 50 are usually affected by the ailment, and the older you become, the higher your chance of getting it. The goal of treatment is to increase blood flow from the legs, and methods range from surgery to the use of compression socks.

Former President Joe Biden disclosed in May that he had been diagnosed with a “aggressive” form of prostate cancer, so Trump is not the only American politician to experience health difficulties in recent months.

“Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone,” read a statement from the Biden family at the time.

“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management. The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”