Health
Doctors react to alleged Trump health concerns as photos show swelling and bruising
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
After photos circulated recently of President Donald Trump’s apparently swollen legs and bruised hand, doctors are speaking about potential causes and concerns.
In an “effort of transparency” on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared a note from Trump’s physician after he underwent a “comprehensive examination” by the White House Medical Unit.
During a press briefing, Leavitt stated that Trump’s swollen legs were part of a “benign and common condition” called “chronic venous insufficiency” that can affect older individuals. (The president is 79.)
TRUMP’S STAMINA IMPRESSES THE EXPERTS
“Importantly, there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease,” she said.
Leavitt attributed the bruising on the president’s hand to “frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin.”
After photos circulated recently of President Trump’s apparently swollen legs and bruised hand, doctors shared thoughts about potential causes and concerns. (Getty Images)
“This is 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,” she said.
“This is a well-known and benign side effect of aspirin therapy, and the president remains in excellent health.”
‘Common condition’
Scott A. Sundick, M.D., a vascular and endovascular surgeon at The Cardiovascular Care Group in Westfield, New Jersey, commented on the concerns that have been raised. (He has not treated the president.)
“Leg swelling is a common condition, particularly among older adults. As a practicing vascular surgeon, I see patients for this issue more frequently than almost any other complaint,” he told Fox News Digital.
“The president remains in excellent health.”
While leg swelling is often benign, it can sometimes be a symptom of serious, potentially life-threatening conditions, such as acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT), congestive heart failure (CHF) or renal failure, according to the doctor.
“In the president’s case, these more concerning causes were appropriately ruled out through a combination of diagnostic testing, including a venous Doppler ultrasound, echocardiogram and laboratory evaluations respectively,” he added.
A memorandum from Dr. Sean P. Barbabella, Trump’s physician, was posted on The White House’s website on Thursday asserting that the president underwent a “comprehensive evaluation” and was found to be “in excellent health.” (WhiteHouse.gov)
Sundick also spoke about the president’s diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency, which he described as a “relatively common and benign condition.”
“Under normal circumstances, blood returns to the heart from the legs through the veins, aided by the contraction of leg muscles with each step we take,” he said.
HEART ATTACK DEATHS HAVE PLUMMETED IN US, BUT NEW CARDIOVASCULAR THREATS EMERGE
“These contractions help push blood upward, and valves within the veins prevent it from flowing backward toward the feet. When these valves become weakened or incompetent, blood can pool in the lower legs — a condition known as venous insufficiency.”
This condition can cause symptoms such as leg swelling or varicose veins, the doctor noted.
Photos recently circulated of President Trump’s apparently bruised hand, which appeared to be covered by makeup. (Getty Images)
Treatment usually includes the use of compression stockings or, in some cases, a minimally invasive outpatient procedure called venous ablation.
Regarding the bruising being attributed to aspirin therapy, Sundick noted that many older adults take daily low-dose aspirin as part of a cardiovascular disease prevention strategy.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“Aspirin works by inhibiting platelet function, reducing the risk of blood clots that could lead to heart attacks or strokes,” he said.
“A well-known side effect of aspirin therapy is an increased tendency to bruise easily, even with minor trauma.”
President Trump’s apparently swollen legs at a FIFA game on Sunday in New Jersey sparked discussion. (Getty Images)
Sundick said this is “common and generally not concerning,” particularly considering aspirin’s “well-established cardiovascular benefits.”
Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News’ senior medical analyst, also commented on the bruising seen on Trump’s hand.
“As you age, your skin can become more friable (fragile), less elastic and more prone to easy bruising,” Siegel, who has not treated the president, told Fox News Digital.
“I don’t think there’s anything hidden there at all.”
“Aspirin interferes with platelet function, making this more likely.”
On a Thursday episode of “America Reports,” Siegel noted that he found the medical update “reassuring,” calling Trump’s condition “not serious, completely benign and cosmetic.”
“It’s expected for a man who’s in his late 70s and standing on his feet all the time,” Siegel added, noting that compression stockings and elevating the legs could help to reduce swelling and any potential discomfort.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
The doctor also said he “accepts the explanation” that Trump’s hand bruising is caused by “vigorous handshaking.”
“I don’t think there’s anything hidden there at all,” Siegel said.
New flu strain emerging as a severe health threat
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel joins ‘America’s Newsroom’ to warn of a new strain of the flu that is spiking hospitalizations across the country and newfound risks of medical marijuana’s link to psychosis.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The New York State Department of Health reported a record surge in influenza activity, with 71,123 positive flu cases recorded statewide during the week ending December 20.
Health officials said the figure represents the highest number of flu cases ever reported in a single week since influenza became a reportable disease in New York in 2004.
State health data show the weekly total reflects a 38% increase from the previous reporting period, signaling a rapidly intensifying flu season.
There have been 189,312 reported positive flu cases so far this season, while influenza-related hospitalizations rose 63% in the most recent week.
FLU BY STATE: WHERE THIS SEASON’S HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS VARIANT IS SPREADING THE MOST
New York reported the highest weekly total of cases ever recorded since influenza became reportable in 2004. (iStock)
“We are seeing the highest number of flu cases ever recorded in a single week in New York state,” Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said in a press release.
There have been 189,312 reported flu cases so far this season, with influenza-related hospitalizations increasing 63% in the most recent week. (iStock)
Earlier this month, the department declared influenza prevalent statewide, a designation that requires unvaccinated health care workers to wear masks in patient care settings.
SURGE IN WHOOPING COUGH CASES IN SOUTHERN STATE PROMPTS HEALTH ALERTS
Health officials continue to emphasize that vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent severe illness and hospitalization from influenza.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
New Yorkers who have not yet received a seasonal flu shot are still encouraged to do so, with experts saying vaccination can offer protection even later in the season.
Health officials continue to urge New Yorkers to take preventive steps, including vaccination and staying home when sick, to limit further spread. (iStock)
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
To help limit further spread, the department advises individuals experiencing flu-like symptoms — including fever, cough, sore throat, or body aches — to stay home. State health officials also recommend frequent handwashing, using hand sanitizer, and avoiding close contact with sick individuals.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
For those who become ill, officials say antiviral medications are available and are most effective when started within 48 hours of symptom onset.
Health officials also added that people at higher risk for complications should contact a health care provider promptly for evaluation and possible treatment.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
The department noted that flu activity typically peaks in January, meaning case counts could continue to climb in the weeks ahead.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
If the stress of the holidays wreaked havoc on your gut, you’re not alone — 76% of Americans experience gastrointestinal distress during the holiday season, according to a recent national survey from Oshi Health and YouGov.
Digestive problems can be triggered not only by holiday overeating, but also by stress. Financial worries, disrupted routines, fatigue and interpersonal dynamics rank as some of the top causes.
“I see an uptick in psychiatry-related GI issues during the holiday season,” Dr. Claire Brandon, a gastrointestinal psychiatrist based in New York City, told Fox News Digital. “When you are undergoing stress, your body produces more corticotropin-releasing hormones, which sets off a cascade of the inflammatory system.”
GUT IMBALANCE MAY BE DRIVING AMERICA’S FOOD ALLERGY EPIDEMIC, EXPERTS WARN
Stress hormones can act directly on the gut, leading to more digestive distress and pushing the body out of “rest-and-digest mode,” Brandon said.
“Stress activates the sympathetic — fight, flight, freeze — nervous system, which slows digestion,” added Dr. David Clarke, an Oregon-based gastroenterologist and president of the Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms. “That can lead to bloating, cramps, nausea and sometimes abdominal pain.”
Stress often plays a bigger role in digestive issues than overeating alone, experts say. (iStock)
The good news, doctors say, is that a few simple, realistic steps can help reset the digestive system after the holidays.
No. 1: Reset your sleep
Sleep plays a major role in gut health. Research shows that insufficient or disrupted sleep can change the composition and function of the gut microbiome, potentially affecting metabolic and immune factors that influence overall health.
NOT ALL FIBER IS CREATED EQUAL — DOCTORS SHARE WHICH KINDS TRULY SUPPORT LONGEVITY
“When I travel and get derailed, my main focus is to reset my sleep,” Brandon said. She recommends reestablishing wind-down routines like deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation.
No. 2: Eat balanced, fiber-rich meals
Fiber helps keep digestion moving and supports healthy gut bacteria, which can aid post-holiday recovery, experts say.
“The usual principles for supporting digestion apply here,” said Clarke. “Consuming a balanced diet emphasizing fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes; avoiding highly processed foods; and moderating alcohol will keep your gut microbiome happy.”
Digestive symptoms like bloating and discomfort often spike during the holidays due to stress, travel and disrupted routines. (iStock)
No. 3: Stay hydrated
Staying hydrated will also aid digestion, Clarke said, noting that light-colored urine is a good indicator of hydration.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Traveling can be particularly tough on the gut, experts say, especially during flights where low cabin humidity causes the body to pull water from the bowels, leading to constipation.
Drinking water before, during, and after flights — and limiting alcohol and caffeine — can help counteract dehydration-related digestive slowdowns. Experts also recommend sipping water consistently throughout the day.
No. 4: Resume regular movement
Both doctors agreed that exercise supports digestion and stress regulation, which are both key to gut recovery.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“Going on walks can be enough to help with this, but if you have space to do more, including some gentle stretching, that can be a huge help,” Brandon advised.
No. 5: Reduce stress gradually
Stress management plays a critical role in gut health, and experts say that small, consistent habits can help ease gastrointestinal symptoms.
Brandon recommends calming the nervous system with breathing or grounding exercises and slowing down at meals.
Light movement can help support digestion and regulate stress, experts say. (iStock)
“If you’re constantly running on fumes, on a layover in the airport, eating high sugar and doing things off your routine, expect a few disruptions with your gut,” she said. “Reframe it as something that you can reset when you get home.”
No. 6: Skip cleanses and detoxes
Clarke says that detoxes and cleanses are not necessary and can actually be harmful. Instead, he recommends sticking to the basics — including hydration, balanced meals, regular sleep and movement.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Doctors say the gut is designed to recover on its own in response to consistently healthy practices rather than extreme resets.
Experts recommend returning to balanced, fiber-rich meals instead of intense cleanses. (iStock)
While short-lived symptoms can improve within hours and are usually temporary, experts say lingering or worsening issues shouldn’t be ignored.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“If you are back home and struggling to feel your usual baseline while back on your routine, it’s probably worth checking in with your physician,” Brandon advised.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Regular exercise may do more than strengthen the heart. It could also reprogram the nerves that control how the heart beats, new research has found.
The discovery could eventually help doctors better treat common conditions such as irregular heart rhythms, chest pain, angina and stress-related “broken-heart” syndrome, according to scientists at the University of Bristol in the U.K.
The study, which looked at lab rats trained over 10 weeks, found that moderate exercise does not affect the heart’s nerve control system evenly. Instead, it produces distinct and opposing changes on the left and right sides of the body. a split researchers say has gone largely unnoticed until now.
SIMPLE LIFESTYLE CHANGES COULD SLASH HEART ATTACK RISK FOR MILLIONS, SCIENTISTS REPORT
“The discovery points to a previously hidden left–right pattern in the body’s ‘autopilot’ system that helps run the heart,” Dr. Augusto Coppi, the study’s lead author and a senior lecturer in veterinary anatomy at the University of Bristol, said in a statement.
Regular exercise may “rewire” the nerves that control the heart, the new study found. (iStock)
“This could help explain why some treatments work better on one side than the other and, in the future, help doctors target therapies more precisely and effectively,” Coppi added.
After 10 weeks of aerobic exercise, the researchers examined the animals’ heart control nerves and found left–right differences that did not appear in inactive rats, according to the research published in the journal Autonomic Neuroscience in September.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
On the right side, the nerve hub that sends “go faster” signals to the heart developed many more nerve cells, suggesting increased wiring. On the left side, however, the number of nerve cells did not rise as much. Instead, the existing cells grew significantly larger, indicating a different kind of adaptation.
The findings could help explain why some heart treatments work better on one side than the other. (iStock)
The findings show that exercise reshapes the heart’s nerve control system in a side-specific way rather than affecting both sides equally, the researchers said. Understanding that process could help doctors better target treatments, especially for patients who cannot exercise or whose symptoms persist despite lifestyle changes.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Researchers compared the nerve clusters, known as the stellate ganglia, to a “dimmer switch” that fine-tunes how strongly the heart is stimulated. That fine-tuning is important because overstimulation of these nerves is linked to chest pain and dangerous heart rhythm problems.
Scientists caution more studies are needed to determine whether the same effects occur in humans. (iStock)
The findings are early stage and based on animal research, however. So, they do not prove the same effects in people. More studies are needed before they could affect patient care.
Researchers say future studies will explore whether similar left–right nerve changes occur in people and whether they could help explain why some heart treatments work better on one side than the other, potentially paving the way for more precise, personalized care for angina and heart rhythm disorders.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
The study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from University College London, the University of São Paulo and the Federal University of São Paulo in Brazil.
Researchers discovered distinct left-right changes in heart-control nerves after 10 weeks of aerobic exercise. (iStock)
The findings add to growing evidence that regular, moderate exercise benefits the heart in ways scientists are beginning to understand better.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Fox News Digital has reached out to the study authors for comment.
2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
SF 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks preview: Race for the NFC’s No. 1 seed
‘No War With Venezuela’ protest held in downtown Dallas after U.S. seizes Maduro
Kirouac’s dunk sparks Georgia Tech to victory over Boston College
Denver Barkey scores first career goal as Flyers take down Oilers
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
For those who help the poor, 2025 goes down as a year of chaos
Marjorie Taylor Greene criticizes Trump’s meetings with Zelenskyy, Netanyahu: ‘Can we just do America?’
US visa ban targets ex-Commissioner Breton over alleged censorship
‘Bomb cyclone’ forecasted to bring heavy snow, blizzard conditions and dangerous travel
The biggest losers of 2025: Who fell flat as the year closed
-
Entertainment1 week agoHow the Grinch went from a Yuletide bit player to a Christmas A-lister
-
Connecticut1 week agoSnow Accumulation Estimates Increase For CT: Here Are The County-By-County Projections
-
Entertainment1 week agoPat Finn, comedy actor known for roles in ‘The Middle’ and ‘Seinfeld,’ dies at 60
-
World6 days agoHamas builds new terror regime in Gaza, recruiting teens amid problematic election
-
Indianapolis, IN1 week agoIndianapolis Colts playoffs: Updated elimination scenario, AFC standings, playoff picture for Week 17
-
Southeast1 week agoTwo attorneys vanish during Florida fishing trip as ‘heartbroken’ wife pleads for help finding them
-
World1 week agoSnoop Dogg, Lainey Wilson, Huntr/x and Andrea Bocelli Deliver Christmas-Themed Halftime Show for Netflix’s NFL Lions-Vikings Telecast
-
World1 week agoBest of 2025: Top five defining moments in the European Parliament