By Christopher Sharp

Copyright dailystar

President Donald Trump is setting off on a three-day state visit to the UK today, six years after his inaugural trip in 2019. While eyes will be on his interactions with the royals and Keir Starmer, the spotlight will also shine on his physical health. Since assuming office earlier this year, he’s been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency , photographed with swollen ankles, displayed bruising on his right hand which he now conceals, and was even caught with a drooping mouth as recently as this month. The White House has insisted, much like the Biden administration previously, that its 79-year-old leader will complete his full term. Trump cleared his initial medical examination earlier this year and was deemed fit for duty from both physical and mental perspectives. Ahead of the state visit, three doctors were asked for their assessment of Trump’s recent physical deterioration and its implications moving forward. Dr Jeff Foster, a private health GP and medical director of Manual , has expressed the greatest concern regarding Trump’s wellbeing. He stated that recent incidents, including Trump apparently struggling to hear at a recent gathering , are indicators of something serious developing and mirror the fragility Biden showed in his final months in office, reports the Daily Express . He explained: “Certainly it is fair to say that Trump has become increasingly frail in the last few months. In a similar way to how Biden appeared to be less sharp and coherent during his final years of the presidency due to underlying illness, we are starting to see a similar picture with Trump. “His repeated small errors could easily be a sign of something more significant in his health. The recent events highlighting odd physical signs in President Trump have highlighted potential serious underlying medical problems.” Dr Foster continued: “These include the fact he appears to not have understood comment during a recent interview, the fact he has had unusual markings on the back of his hand and then now combined with a one-sided facial droop. “These could all just be random separate incidents but medicine tends not to work that way and most of the time conditions do tend to be linked the biggest concern in this case especially in terms of the drooping lip would be a recent cardiovascular/neurological event such as a stroke or mini stroke. “No matter the underlying cause these are serious medical conditions that could have significant impact on the president’s ability to govern and also his general thought processes and cognition.” Dr Foster admitted some of these episodes might not stem from anything medically sinister, but could simply be the natural consequence of advancing years and the ageing process . When addressing Trump’s hearing difficulties specifically, Dr Foster suggested it might be attributed to age-related hearing decline. He explained: “In a crowded room with lots of distractions, it can be hard to focus on a single sound so he may lean in to seek clarity from her words.” Dr Foster also highlighted that dementia impacts “about 5%” of individuals in Trump’s age bracket, which could indicate his mental sharpness “may not be as it was”. He continued: “Finally, at 79, various other health problems can have an impact on our cognition and our ability to concentrate in a way we are more resilient too when we are younger. For example, just having a cough or cold can make it hard to concentrate and focus when we age.” Dr William Shutze, from Texas Vascular Associates, echoed Dr Foster’s observations about Trump’s facial drooping and chronic venous insufficiency. He stated: “I cannot comment on the photo showing President Trump’s potentially drooping face, or if he may have experienced a stroke. However, it’s important to note that a drooping face combined with vascular issues is a serious medical concern that often indicates a stroke. “Chronic venous insufficiency is mostly just an annoying problem for people since it is a non-life-threatening issue. However, if vascular conditions like CVI are not treated properly, they have potential to develop into more serious health consequences. “In the case that other health conditions are present and contributing to the President’s ankle swelling there could be cause for concern about his overall health.” Dr Shutze also put forward an alternative explanation on Trump’s wellbeing. He stated: “Immediate medical attention is necessary if a person suddenly experiences a facial droop or other signs of a stroke. “Another potential cause for a drooping face is Bell’s Palsy. While not an emergency, consultation with a medical professional is recommended.” The NHS describes Bell’s Palsy as a “temporary weakness or lack of movement that usually affects one side of the face”. Additional symptoms may include: Dr Michael Aziz, who serves as attending physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, also shared his thoughts. He took the most reserved approach when assessing Trump’s physical condition, while offering positive remarks about his neurological function. Addressing the incident in which Melania needed to help Trump hear a question , he said: “The reporter voice was loud and clear, but First Lady Melania Trump had to repeat the question in his ear again and President Trump answered. “While it appears that there was a confusion on the part of the president for a second, I do not believe President Trump has any memory or cognitive issues. His public performance shows that no issues whatsoever. “His performance is well above any mental or neurological test that can be done at a doctor’s office. President Trump has been on top of his game and has never faltered. The only issue he had was when he said he would meet Putin in Russia versus Alaska. “Mentally, he seems aware of latest news and recollects facts. Nothing is guaranteed in life, but he should be fine based on all the information available.” While there remains disagreement among medical professionals regarding Trump’s current and future health condition, one thing is certain – his wellbeing will continue to be a subject of considerable scrutiny throughout his time in the UK.