A recent medical checkup of President Donald Trump revealed that mild swelling he had noticed in his lower legs was “chronic venous insufficiency,” a common medical condition among the elderly. CVI, as it’s abbreviated, is due to pooling of blood in the veins.

Here's what to know about the condition, whose likelihood increases with age:

What is CVI?

Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when veins in the legs are damaged and don’t work properly. The veins are supposed to keep blood flowing back to the heart and the valves in the veins are supposed to prevent backward flow. But with CVI, the blood instead pools in the legs. That intensifies the pressure in the veins and leads to symptoms such as skin damage and swelling.

What percentage of the American population gets CVI?

The prevalen

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