Bush undergoes heart procedure
(CNN) - Former President George W. Bush, 67, underwent a procedure Tuesday morning to have a stent placed in his heart one day after a blockage was discovered in an artery, according to a statement from his office.
In the statement released by Bush's spokesman, the procedure was "performed successfully," without complication, at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.
"President Bush is in high spirits, eager to return home tomorrow and resume his normal schedule on Thursday. He is grateful to the skilled medical professionals who have cared for him," the statement read.
The blockage was found during Bush's annual physical examination at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas on Monday.
"He thanks his family, friends, and fellow citizens for their prayers and well wishes. And he encourages us all to get our regular check-ups," the statement continued.
The 43rd president was known for having relatively good health during his tenure at the White House. For exercise, he was an active runner and frequently rode his mountain bike.
According to his 2006 annual exam, his medical history at the time showed no signs of hypertension or stroke, and he had 'low' to 'very low' coronary artery disease risk profile with a favorable family medical history and absence of modifiable risk factors.
The report also stated he had "minimal/mild" coronary artery calcification, a fairly common sign of early artery disease in which the lining of aortic wall becomes inflamed and plaque starts to build up over time. Calcium deposits begin to form in the artery wall.
Bush's statement Tuesday did not release details on whether his artery blockage was related to his past medical history.
Also, the White House announced in August 2007 that Bush was treated the year prior for Lyme disease. A White House spokesman at the time told CNN that it is "not uncommon" for Bush to get tick bites during his bike rides.
Lyme disease can be transmitted through the bite of a tick that carries the disease. The problem had been resolved, with no re-occurrence and no other symptoms, the White House said six years ago.
His 2007 physical exam also reported bouts of mild vertigo, but it did not interfere with his work.
George Bush has a heart?
mr Former President George W. Bush longlife and help for tibet i am from newk york my best president george w bush
thanks for
No matter his politics or your feelings about GWB, no one should wish harm on another, karma has a long memory.
Saved by Government Health Care, huh....
who knew he had a heart? we know for sure no brain.
look at all the post by the people who call the GOP the party of hate, guess they are talking lessons from all of you
Out comes the hate emails from the lemmings of Saul Allinsky land. Obama has done everything Bush did most worse and he still has a couple years to match casualty counts so your hating Bush (who really did try to be non partisan) to Obama whose idea of change is make it more partisan............is hardly to be considered improvement. At least the economy was a hell of a lot better under Bush..........jobs sure were and even with smoke and mirrors accounting gimmicks our economy still sux...........sux bad.
I just love how understanding and compassionate Liberals are.
Take care of yourself Pres. GWB!
And why is he not having this operation while in prison? That's where WAR CRIMINALS belong....PRISON.
I think that what George W. Bush really needs is a head stent.
It's all a lie – Cheney needed a new heart and stole what little Bush has...
In return, Bush will get part of Cheney's brain – a 1 inch cube-sized piece that equals 40% of Cheney's existing grey matter.
"reported bouts of mild vertigo, but it did not interfere with his work. " What work? he did two things while in office, bankrupt America and started the phoney war in Iraq. His bouts of vertigo were constant and lasted for at least the years of 2000 to 2008.
This is not news. People have gone thru this surgery. It would be nice to see an article where it mentioned that he had the heart procedure followed by unpaid mountains of bills, like the rest of us Americans.
Even if you disagree with his politics, it's wrong to wish death on someone. People that do should be ashamed of themselves.
George Bush has a heart?? Gee, who would have know?
You people are sick!
He's got a heart ??
@I see you
I believe more than ever that the Bush administration masterminded 9-11 to gain control over us with fear tactics.
Now they have free reign to SPY on us on EVERY LEVEL, to keep us safe from the "terrorists". This has been their dream for decades. To have the ability to know every little secret about your life on so many levels is ILLEGAL and INSANE!
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Who is keeping the spying alive? Heres a hint.. the Bush administration has been gone for 5.5 years now!
Wow, our former president has the type of 1st class health care services he denied Americn citizens of receiving.
If only the good die young, George W. will live to 100. Guess he is out of the running for Dick Cheney's next heart transplant donor program
Enjoy your taxpayer-provided healthcare, Dubyah.
What heart? I wish that buffoon a painful and long recovery. So long that he'll be too old to ever say anything stupid again.
Mr. Bush: I wish you the best.
God Bless You Mr. President. I hope you get well soon. You were an AWESOME president, and I'd vote for you a THIRD time if I could.