For several weeks, Donald Trump’s state of health has been at the heart of all speculation. Originally: a series of photographs and videos where bruises are clearly distinguished on his hands, especially during his meeting with the South Korean president 3 days ago. What revive rumors about the physical condition of the 79 -year -old American president.
Images that ignite the web
Blue hand, coarse foundation to hide a suspicious stain, swollen ankles: so many details scrutinized by Internet users and widely commented on social networks. Some go so far as to evoke a “state secret” around the president’s health and accuse the White House of publishing “tampered” medical bulletins.
An argument based on a past episode: in 2015, his personal doctor said that Donald Trump was “man having the best health ever elected president “, Before admitting later that the letter had been dictated by Trump himself.
Official diagnosis: chronic venous insufficiency
Faced with the virality of these images, the White House published, as of July 17, a medical note signed by Sean Barbabella, personal doctor of the president. Diagnosis: chronic venous insufficiency.
A benign and frequent condition after 70 years, which leads to a less effective venous return to the heart, causing swelling, varicose veins and bruises. The risk factors are well known: age, obesity, sedentary lifestyle or history of phlebitis.
Chronic venous insufficiency which does not represent any vital danger if it is not associated with a more severe venous disease.
Why do these bruises on the hands?
In addition to the natural fragility of the skin with age, the White House gave a simple explanation to visible marks on the president’s hands: a combination of frequent hand handles and daily aspirin intake in the context of cardiovascular prevention. Aspirin fluidifies blood and promotes the appearance of bruises, sometimes even after minimal trauma.
Dr. Gérald Kierzek, however, sheds broader light on this frequent phenomenon in the elderly. The causes are indeed multiple:
Benign and frequent causes (the most likely)
- Natural hair fragility: with age, the skin becomes thinner and the vessels more fragile;
- Miners’ trauma often forgotten;
- Chronic sun exposure, causing a senile purpura (frequent blue on the back of the hands).
Medical and drug causes
- Punctions and blood reports made on the hand (the president being very monitored he receives many blood tests);
- Drugs that streamline blood: anticoagulants (warfarin, heparin, xarelto, eliqui, etc.), anti -aging (aspirin, plavix), corticosteroids;
- Vitamin deficiencies;
- Coagulation disorders (hemophilia, Willebrand disease), blood diseases (thrombocytopenic purpura, leukemia, etc.);
- Liver or kidneys diseases, which affect coagulation.
Blue on the hands: when to consult?
Our doctor reminds us, however: medical follow -up is essential if bruises appear repeatedly and without clear reason, or if they are accompanied by symptoms such as:
- Frequent bleeding (nose, gums);
- Appearance of small red spots (petechia),
- Persistent fatigue;
- Fever ;
- Unexplained weight loss.
The president of the president, a debate that returns to each mandate
If some Internet users see in these images the proof of a “catastrophic” state of health, specialists are therefore unanimous: nothing indicates that Donald Trump is “in the article of death”. But will that be enough to dissuade Internet users? Nothing is less certain. In the United States, the presidents are not required to publish their medical file. But tradition wants them to communicate regularly on their health in order to reassure public opinion. These bulletins are always the subject of debates, and Donald Trump is no exception to the rule. Between medical transparency and conspiracy theories, his health will probably remain a sensitive subject until the end of his mandate.