After President Donald Trump was diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI), attention has turned to this underrecognized but serious vein condition.
CVI causes blood to pool in the legs due to faulty valves in the veins, leading to swelling, fatigue, and even skin damage, and it’s far more than a cosmetic issue. Experts warn it’s linked to an increased risk of heart disease and even death, especially in older adults. Often ignored until it’s advanced, CVI affects millions, and doctors are urging the public to learn the signs early, as treatment is most effective when started sooner.
Trump Diagnosed With Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Following news from the White House confirming that President Donald J. Trump has been diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI), the American Heart Association is highlighting key facts about this condition and its link to heart-related health risks and increased mortality.
The Association, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to heart and brain health, notes that chronic venous insufficiency (a type of chronic venous disease) is widespread, particularly among older adults. Despite its prevalence, CVI is frequently overlooked and inadequately treated. Research shows a strong connection between CVI and a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and facing higher mortality rates, regardless of a person’s age, sex, or existing cardiovascular risk factors. CVI is commonly seen in individuals who already have known cardiovascular risk factors or conditions, such as advanced age, obesity, a history of smoking, low physical activity, or diagnosed heart disease.
Getting older significantly increases the likelihood of developing CVI. As people age, the valves inside the veins of the legs—which help direct blood flow upward to the heart—can weaken or suffer damage. When these valves do not work properly, blood can begin to flow backward and collect in the veins of the legs. This poor circulation can result in blood pooling and the progression of CVI.
Recognizing Symptoms Early Can Save Lives
“Chronic Venous Insufficiency can significantly impact your quality of life, but early detection and treatment can make a substantial difference,” said past volunteer chair of the American Heart Association’s Vascular Health Advisory Committee and Scientific Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease Joshua A. Beckman, M.D., FAHA.
“That is why it is vital for individuals to be aware of the signs and symptoms of CVI so they can seek timely medical evaluation and intervention.”
Dr. Beckman is the Executive Clinical Director of Cardiovascular Services and Chief of the Division of Vascular Medicine and a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, where he holds the Gayle and Paul Stoffel Distinguished Chair in Cardiology. He also serves as an associate editor of Circulation, the leading scientific journal for cardiovascular medicine, and has been a dedicated American Heart Association volunteer since 2004.
Common Signs: From Swelling to Restless Legs
Symptoms of chronic venous disease include edema (swelling), varicose veins, and skin changes commonly called ‘venous eczema’ or ‘stasis dermatitis,’ which appear as red, itchy, or scaly patches on the lower legs caused by poor blood flow. and ulcerations. The condition can result in pain, itch, or bleeding in the impacted area, as well as aching, cramping, throbbing, leg fatigue, heaviness, or restless legs.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt recently announced that President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency after experiencing mild swelling in his lower leg. The White House has also stated there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease, and all laboratory results were within normal limits.
DVT vs. CVI: Understanding the Difference
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) are related but distinct conditions affecting the veins, usually in the legs. Deep vein thrombosis is a serious condition where a blood clot (thrombus) forms in a deep vein, typically in the legs or pelvis. A potentially life-threatening complication of DVT is pulmonary embolism (PE), where a piece of the blood clot breaks off and travels to the lungs, blocking blood flow.
Compression Therapy and Modern Treatments
Treatment for CVI includes compression therapy—multilayer and short-stretch bandaging, elastic garments, graded compression stockings, and pneumatic pumps. The use of topical anti-inflammatory steroid medications, as well as antibiotic and diuretic therapy, may also be prescribed. Some patients may benefit from interventional endovascular therapies, which are minimally invasive procedures typically involving the insertion of a catheter, a thin tube, through a small incision (often in the groin) and guiding it to the location of the blood clot using imaging techniques such as X-rays or ultrasound to remove the obstruction.
CVI is diagnosed through duplex ultrasound, magnetic resonance venography (MRV), or computed tomography venography (CTV) of the veins to look for backwards flow, vein obstructions, or compressive syndromes.
In the U.S., per the American Heart Association’s 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics:
- In 2022 (most recent data available), CVI was listed as the principal diagnosis in 5,805 hospital discharges and among all-listed diagnoses in 234,655 hospital discharges
- Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) was listed as the cause of death in 62 people in the U.S. in 2022.
- CVI was listed among ‘any mention mortality’ in 977 deaths in 2022.
- Pain is the most common symptom (29%), followed by swelling, heaviness, fatigue, and cramping.
- Spider veins are seen in 7%, and varicosities and skin changes are seen in 4% each. Stasis ulcer is present in 1% of all patients with CVI.
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32 Comments
“Former” president Trump? Wishful thinking…but I like the sentiment. 🙂
One would think that something called SciTechDaily would be up to date.
Well he is a FORMER president and a CURRENT one. But.. I love the idea of FORMER as well.
His passing can’t come quick enough.
Your remark is reprehensible! It is attitudes like yours that are responsible for the polarization of public opinion and the rampant obstructionism that makes it difficult to try new things. A third of the national budget goes to paying interest on loans largely from China, a potential enemy in a hot war. The loans are necessary because America doesn’t export enough goods, and what we do export we have to pay punishing tariffs on. Yet, those like yourself are so blinded by irrational hatred that you can’t see that Trump is attempting to use reciprocal tariffs to get more favorable trade agreements and thereby reduce the balance of payments. And the best you can do is wish ill for someone who is trying to make life better for Americans, even you. Who needs enemies with ‘patriots’ like yourself?
Trump is an idiot who will just drive the US deeper into the ground with his idiotic policies.
The only thing he’s ever been good at was convincing dupes like you that he’s competent. But he’s not.
I must confess that, as a non-American and someone brought up in a country that refused to support the notion of the Divine Right of Kings back in at least 1649 (and possibly 500 years earlier if one considers the Magna Carta as the foundation stone of modern democracy), I find a number of Trump’s executive pronouncements and the consequent actions somewhat offensive. And that type of “kingly” pronouncement is what causes polarisation of public opinion. It seems that George III had a similar polarising effect on some British north America colonists.
Trump has spent years mocking others, cheating others, abusing others and calling others degratory names. He may not be held accountable for his wrong doings by humans, but looks like The Creator is delivering him a bit of his just due karma. While I usually hope the best for all, I am not in the bit sorry if this ends his reign of torment.
What do tariffs have to do with this conversation about his disease? He is morally bankrupt he’s a criminal and a child rapist who has no business running this nation. His Big bad Deal will put plus in deeper debt by trillions but you cant understand why normal people hate the man so much? You need to get right with God and stop idolizing a demigod. The world will be a better place without him. He’s the only one creating division. Don’t fool yourself.
Susie, he is a criminal – that part of now in the record books. That more than half of the country actually supports him shows that the moral decline you talk about isn’t just limited to Trump. There is no moral equivalence here – there is no way to talk about “there are good people on both sides” – it just isn’t true.
I suppose a 6-times bankrupt worth a billion dollars DOES know how to handle money. The US couldn’t get a President with a better understanding of the financial world.
Haha Your comments are reprehensible to the rest of us Americans that are disgusted with people like yourself that believe a President & his people have a right to torture, kidnap and put fear into human beings. Wheres the humanity. Name one thing he’s done for this Country so far except sent unqualified people after anyone with brown skin? The economy isn’t better- prices on Everything has gone up when everything was going down with Biden. Job loses everywhere People are being fired by the 1000’s daily, Biden was bringing so many factories, jobs to US. GAS was almost at $2 where I live with Biden now it’s back to over $3 …. Education? A Wrestling Promoter REALLY?? This Country is a mess because he’s running it on revenge & spite. And all along he was the one sick!! I was a nurse for over 25 yrs he’s not going to miraculously get healthy & his CVI go away. I believe he’s had it longer than they say & it’s worse than they say by the leg brace and bruising on his hand. He’s unlikeable people are Not going to suddenly Like him because he’s ill. No way
Tina, there is no comparison between Democrats and Republicans in terms of the economy. By most measures (say, stock market levels or GDP or whatever) Democrats do about 4 times better. That’s 400% of Republican performance. This data goes back 50 years. so, your anecdotal experiences can be backed up at least half a century’s worth of data.
But, yet … the wide perception is that Republicans are better for the economy. The problem with this country is that most of US are too lazy to think about any sort of numbers. So, they go only with the talking heads on TV, which is stuck on just one channel. This is why education is so important, and this is why would-be dictators first try to destroy educational institutions. Know anyone like that?
Suck it up Derek & Jack. You both seem to have evil intent towards a President that is trying to get us back on the right road. Shame on you both.
I agree with Janet! Long live President Trump!
No, he’s trying to stay out of prison, that’s all he’s trying to do.
When I worked for UPI (United Press International). They had files of pre-written biographies of famous people. These were kept updated by staff. When UPI put them on the “wire” for newspapers everywhere, then you could depend on the famous person being dead within 48 hours.
I’m waiting.
Janet, the right road?? Only if you like the Middle Ages. We are going backwards!
As is typical of those with an irrational hatred of Trump, you are unable to offer an articulate justification for what is little more than than an insult.
America experienced ascendancy to Superpower at the end of World War II, not during Medieval Times when the USA didn’t exist. Trump’s platform has always been to “Make America Great AGAIN.” We used our wealth and power to re-build a devastated Europe and Japan, helping build modern factories to compete with our out-of-date factories. If you are unaware of the sacrifices that the USA made to re-build not only allies, but former enemies, then it is clear that our education system has been inadequate to counter the distortions of truth by Communists and Socialists.
Consider that no one is perfect, and even if there were such a person, there would be some who wouldn’t recognize perfection and would be critical of the ‘perfect’ person. The whole intent of our Constitutional Republic is to protect the rights and privileges of citizens, not to offer refuge to the billions of people who aren’t citizens. We should serve as an example to others as what can be achieved if they rise up against their corrupt governments and emulate the best of our accomplishments. The checks and balances of our legislative system are intended to offer an alternative to civil war. The Middle Ages offered no such alternatives and it was a time of unspeakable violence, and the average king or emperor had a standard of living inferior to even our poorest, save for the power or life and death over the subjugated and the wealth to live in a drafty castle. You appear to live in a fantasy world and the best you apparently can do is destructively criticize.
There is no “irrational” hatred of Trump. There’s just awareness of all the facts that make him a criminal and a fraud.
The only irrationality comes from Trump supporters that are still ready to defend his misdeeds, especially now when it’s so obvious that he’s as deeply in bed with the “deep state” as any other president in history. In other words: the “Trump Derangement Syndrome” is all yours. You own it now.
Irrespective of the rights and wrongs of illicit immigration, there are not billions of such in the USA, and I respectfully doubt that billions of people are planning to enter the USA illegally. Given your scientific desire for accurate measurement and for clearly specifying error bars in scientific statements and measurement, I am surprised at the scale of your exaggeration. I suggest that those desiring to enter the USA, legally or illegally, number in the order of 10 power 5, and not 10 power 9. There are only of the order of 3×10 power 6 American citizens, to put it in perspective.
“If you are unaware of the sacrifices that the USA made to re-build not only allies”. Thanks for two loans from the USA to the UK: one was paid off with interest in the 61 years after 1945 and the other paid off with interest after 64 years fom 1947. The arms sales made to the UK in the 1914-18 squabble with Germany turned the economy of the US from being a debtor nation to a creditor nation and the loans made then to the UK with interest were unlikely to have been repaid until 1982; they were duly amortised, if that is the correct term, in 1932 because of the Great Depression
Erratum; 300X10 power 6 USAians. Another damned typo!
Maybe he should start laying off all those McDonald’s meals
As we all should! What is your age and Body Mass Index? Are you a pillar of ideal behavior?
One day we will all be there where your body or mind will begin to fail. I remind us all of the Golden rule to treat others as you want to be treated. Faith in God and sympathy for others is what’s needed and not crude comments or jokes about others health challenges. Remember what goes around comes around.
👍👍
If “what goes around comes around” is true, why is Trump not in jail already?
And here I thought Biden was the one who wouldn’t see the end of his tenure.
That photo looks complete photoshopped to make him look half dead lol, he is orange, not white!?
The venous system is divided into 3 types of veins: Deep Veins, which supply the heart with blood. Superficial Veins which are the veins you see under your skin they drain into the deep veins. Perforator Veins which connects the superficial veins to the deep veins.
All extremity /peripheral veins have valve.
The etiology of ~ 95% of individuals who are diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency ( CVI) superficial venous insufficiency ( Varicose Veins & Spider Veins).
These conditions can be easily treated with weight loss, exercise, compression stocking or ablation of the vein by inserting a catheter into the vein just above the knee and closing the vein. Spider vein can be eliminated by sclerosing the by injected an irritant directly into the vein.
The most common cause of lower extremity ulcers are Deep Veins Thrombosis below the knee that cause the Perforator Vein valves to become incompetent causing blood flow from the deep veins to flow into the superficial veins increasing the pressure in the superficial veins & micro- circulation.
In the 5% of those whose CVI’s etiology is Deep Veins Thrombosis(DVT) the majority of this population DVT went undiagnosed until they developed lower extremity edema & diagnostic studies discovered chronic particial or complete obstruction of a vein deep vein segment & destruction of valve leaflets.
In this patient population symptoms of Deep Venous insufficiency generally don’t present for 5-10 or more years after the DVT with ulcerstion occurring ~ 10-20 years after the DVT.
Of the 5% of the population who develope a DVT only 1% develope a Pulmonary Embolism.
The are many systemic causes of lower extremity edema that are life or lifestyle threatening, therefore you should seek medical attention to determine the cause so it can be treated before it becomes a serious issue.
If you’re diagnosed with the catch-all CVI you should take a big sigh of relief because its something that easily treated and rarely on its own fatal.
I knew this article’s comments section would be loaded with people still suffering TDS. Did SciTechDaily write any sections on the human vegetable brain Biden? Didn’t think so
Some Bible scholars have identified President Trump as the Antichrist. Jesus is our Witness.