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Bush's Running Mate Cheney Leaves Hospital
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Republican vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney left the George Washington University Hospital here Friday where he was admitted after suffering a mild heart attack.
Under the advice of his doctors, the former secretary of defense said he was going to take the weekend off but planned to resume a normal schedule beginning Monday.
"I want to thank everybody for their fantastic support," Cheney said at a press conference before he left the hospital. "On my doctors' instructions, I am going to take the weekend off, and plan next week to resume a normal schedule."
Cheney, 59, who has a history of heart problems, was admitted to hospital early Wednesday. He had left the campaign headquarters of Republican George W. Bush in Texas to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with family members who live in McClean, Virginia, just outside of Washington.
Doctors at the hospital, and the Bush campaign, both initially said that Cheney had been admitted with chest discomfort only.
After further tests, however, the diagnosis was changed to a mild heart attack. Tests revealed a narrowing of his heart's left anterior descending artery but no damage.
Cheney on Wednesday underwent a two-hour procedure to insert a stent - or tiny mesh tube - into the artery, to widen it enough to allow a normal flow of blood through it.
Hospital cardiologist Alan Wasserman told a news conference Wednesday: "We expect ... that Mr. Cheney will be back to normal functions, without limitations, in a brief period of time."
Cheney told reporters Friday he planned to discuss a new regimen of diet and exercise with his doctors and that he would continue to take medication for cholesterol, as well as a drug to ensure no complications ensue from the implant of the stent.
But he stressed the incident had no bearing on his fitness, or ability to serve as vice president should the Republicans win the election. He also dismissed suggestions that stress related to the current dispute over the Florida presidential election vote count might have caused his problem.
"Nothing has happened that changes the judgment [of doctors] that I am able to take the responsibility of that office," Cheney said in response to a press question on whether he would step down as the vice-presidential candidate.
"In terms of work and normal activity there are no restrictions," Cheney said.
Defense secretary under the administration of Bush's father, George Bush, Cheney suffered the first of three heart attacks in 1978 and underwent quadruple heart bypass surgery in 1988.
His physicians at the George Washington University Hospital vouched for his good health when he was announced as Bush's vice-presidential running mate in late July.
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