The White House says Donald Trump's swollen legs and ankles are due to chronic venous insufficiency.

This week, the White House answered two questions many people have been asking: Why are Donald Trump’s legs and ankles swollen? And why is there a bruise on his hand that’s often covered by makeup?

The answer? First, the leg swelling is due to chronic venous insufficiency, which White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described as a “benign and common condition.”

The bruise on his hand is unrelated and due to hand shaking and the use of aspirin, the White House said in a memo.

“It’s very rare for people to get chronic venous insufficiency in the arms, and so it’s unlikely that the skin discoloration is due to varicose vein[s] or the chronic venous insufficiency issue,” said Dr. Hugh Pabarue, a physician and vein specialist at Metro Vein Centers in Michigan.

As we age, our skin thins and blood vessels become more easily exposed, so an accidental hand bump against the table can lead to easier bruising, Pabarue noted. But, once again, that isn’t the same thing as chronic venous insufficiency.

Doctors say there are a few things you should know about chronic venous insufficiency in addition to Trump’s visible leg-swelling issue. Here’s what to know:

Blood flow issues are at the center of chronic venous insufficiency.

Dr. Alexa Mieses Malchuk, a family physician in North Carolina, said chronic venous insufficiency is common, especially as folks age.

To understand what chronic venous insufficiency is, it’s important to understand how arteries and veins work, said Mieses Malchuk.

“And there’s one big, important........

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