Cheney Treated For Abnormal Heart Rhythm

Vice President Returns Home After Electric Shock Returns His Heartbeat To Normal

(AP)  Vice President Dick Cheney was treated "without complication" Wednesday for an abnormal heartbeat, his office said, making a short visit to a hospital to restore his normal rhythm with an electric shock.

It was the second time in less than a year that Cheney, a 67-year-old with a history of four heart attacks, had experienced and been treated for an atrial fibrillation, an abnormal rhythm involving the upper chambers of the heart. The episode caused the vice president to cancel his attendance at a political campaign event in Illinois.

Sensing a problem early Wednesday, Cheney saw the White House physician, who discovered the vice president was experiencing a recurrence of the irregular heartbeat. Cheney participated in regular morning briefings with President Bush, among other duties, and remained working at the White House until he went to George Washington University Hospital in the afternoon for treatment.

The process took nearly two hours, after which Cheney went home, said Megan Mitchell, a Cheney spokeswoman.

"An electrical impulse was delivered to restore the heart to normal rhythm," she said. "The procedure went smoothly and without complication."

Cheney told Bush of his condition. The president responded "like he would with any friend," said spokesman Tony Fratto, by wishing the vice president well and telling him to "go and make sure the doctors do what they need to do."

Later, in Ada, Mich., Bush told reporters that Cheney is "going to be fine."

"He said he was confident, the doctors are confident, and therefore I'm confident," Bush said.

Cheney also experienced atrial fibrillation in November 2007, and doctors also administered an electrical shock then in a treatment that took about 2 1/2 hours. That irregular heartbeat was discovered while White House doctors were treating the vice president for a lingering cough from a cold.

Dr. Zayd Eldadah, director of cardiac arrhythmia research at Washington Hospital Center, said it's not unusual for Cheney to have another such episode. An estimated 2.8 million Americans have atrial fibrillation, the most common type of irregular heartbeat and one that is not life-threatening in itself.

"This kind of rhythm problem generally does keep coming back over time," said Eldadah, who is not involved in Cheney's care. "The natural history of atrial fibrillation in people who have heart disease and are older is that it keeps coming back, and generally comes back more frequently."

The main risk from atrial fibrillation is not that Cheney will have another heart attack, but that he eventually could have a stroke if the rhythm problem is not treated.

Atrial fibrillation causes the upper chambers of the heart to quiver, instead of pump. As a result, some blood can pool in the heart. When blood settles, it tends to clot. And if those clots are then pumped out to the body, they can lodge in tiny blood vessels in the brain and cause a stroke.

The procedure Cheney underwent Wednesday is like resetting a computer, Eldadah explained. It involves sedation, and then an electrical charge delivered to the heart. "The heart will be turned off and on to reset it," said Eldadah. "It's a quick fix to restore normal rhythm."

If the procedure doesn't work, patients typically are put on blood thinners to prevent clotting.

"Atrial fibrillation in patients like Vice President Cheney is not a source of great worry or alarm," Eldadah said. "It's very treatable."

Cheney has had four heart attacks, starting when he was 37, and many heart-related doctor's and hospital visits over the years since. He has had quadruple bypass surgery and two artery-clearing angioplasties. In 2001, he had a special pacemaker implanted in his chest. The pacemaker's battery was replaced last year, and then the entire device was replaced.

The type of defibrillator Cheney has is used to prevent sudden death from a very different type of irregular heartbeat than atrial fibrillation, a much more serious kind that starts in the bottom of the heart.

In 2005, he also had surgery to repair an arterial aneurysm on the back of each knee.

In his checkup in July, doctors said Cheney's heart was beating normally for a man of his age and health history.

The campaign visit that Cheney canceled was for Marty Ozinga, a concrete company owner who is running for the House against Democrat Debbie Halvorson, a high-ranking Illinois state senator. Mitchell said Cheney called the event instead to express his support for the candidate.

Hope he''s all right. I don''t care for the man, but I don''t wish him any ill.

[lemonskink]

It''s not because of stress or conscience:

http://www.ronnierayjenkins.com/topics/deathinappalachia/Empty_Chairs/

[rjs1955]

He has a heart??

Let''s see, a hurricane kept him from the republican national convention, now this from a campaign stop in Illinois(Obama Country). Maybe all he would have attracted would be a hostile crowd. When one is as unpopular as Cheney, they should stay home.

[pirmin3]

Heart! Too little, too late. Still got time for the big one before 20 Jan 09.

[john6pack]

It''s Obama''s fault because Cheney was sadden by the latest polls.

[msimamaji]

So Cheney is having heart problems. And who is footing Cheney''s medical bills? The U.S. taxpayer. I find it hypocritical that Cheney expects us to pay his medical bills, yet he is eager to deny the US taxpayer the same tax-subsidized medical care that he enjoys. Why should we put up with this garbage?

Either every one gets medical care, or Cheney can wait in line in the county medical ward like everyone else.

[good4always]

He has a heart??
--------------------------
Posted by rjs1955 at 11:04 AM : Oct 15, 2008



HA ! HA !! HA !!! HA ! HA !! HA !!!

HA ! HA !! HA !!! HA ! HA !! HA !!!

HA ! HA !! HA !!! HA ! HA !! HA !!!

HA ! HA !! HA !!! HA ! HA !! HA !!!

HA ! HA !! HA !!! HA ! HA !! HA !!!



I AM PEING IN MY PANTS!!!


GREAT ONE!!!

[frankie2fing]

This is not medical care, he is going to a mechanic. It is not his heart, it is his glycol pump. His heart was removed 30 years ago.

[gop_will_win]

We should all go out and buy sympathy cards for him and take them around the office for our co-workers to sign. It will make a good impression on the boss.

[that-one-2009]

Eh, he''s only got like 97 more days as VP...

[frankie2fing]

Maybe LIMPAUGH can send him some oxycotin for the pain.

[tawabill]

rjs1955 asks, "He has a heart?"


Of course he does. The difference is that Cheney''s pumps oil.

[Gary Kempf]

Later Wednesday, Cheney will visit George Washington University Hospital for an outpatient procedure to restore his normal rhythm.

Maybe he should go see the Great Wizard of Oz and have Oz give him a heart.

[armydog2]

must be a mistake this p-rick doesn''t have a heart!

[bhuddaflii]

now imagine if something happens to mccain (7 years mr. cheney''s senior). then we have idiot brain and her disfunctional family in the white house! we become the laughing stock of the world and putin wipes us off the map! WAKE UP PEOPLE!! all of the signs are staring you in the face!!

[donevis-2009]

Today he found out his name was not on any of the bailout list!!

[gop_will_win]

You liberals are a bunch of sickos! How can you say such things? *** Cheney is an honest and decent man!

[bigbowler5]

Is he dead yet?

[bigbowler5]

This war criminal will rot in hell. Jesus is waiting for him with a burning fire!

[inventagod2]

If the man is so wonderful, why can''t we even mention his name on these boards???

*** Cheney, Vice President of the United States

[a2s2d]

...I smell another RePIGlican ploy to escape prosecution.

It may work for *****, but I think that DUMBYa is gonna hafta take "a powder" like Mil-HOSE-A-***

[oscarez]

I hope Cheney does not die in office. If he does some one in Bush''s office will say he was killed by liberals or ACORN or Obama and that John McCain almost saved him. We all know what will happen then.

[a2s2d]

...I smell another RePIGlican ploy to escape prosecution.

It may work for *****, but I think that DUMBYa is gonna hafta take "a powder" like SLOBBa-DAMM Mil-HOSE-A-BiiTCH did when He was at the HAGUE waiting for justice.

[waqahi]

"%u2026, and the mercy of your Lord is better than what they amass." Quran 043-032

"And thus do We recompense him who transgresses beyond bounds and believes not in the Signs of his Lord: and the Penalty of the Hereafter is far more grievous and more enduring." Quran 020-127

"Indeed they had plotted sedition before, and upset matters for thee, until,- the Truth arrived, and the Decree of Allah became manifest much to their dislike." Quran 009-048

"Say: Come, I will recite unto you that which your Lord hath made a sacred duty for you: That ye ascribe no thing as partner unto Him and that ye do good to parents, and that ye slay not your children because of penury - We provide for you and for them - and that ye draw not nigh to lewd things whether open or concealed. And that YE SLAY NOT THE LIFE WHICH ALLAH HATH MADE SACRED, save in the course of justice. This He hath command you, in order that ye may discern." Quran 006.151

"And when it is said to them, "Come, the Messenger of Allah will pray for your forgiveness", they turn aside their heads, and thou wouldst see them turning away their faces in arrogance." Quran 063-005

[hotpaulie]

That s.o.b. better live long enough to see the complete destruction of his republican party and to be able to stand trial for his war crimes!!!

[hotpaulie]

BURY THE FFF UUU CCC KKK EEE RRR!!!!!!!!!!!!

[donevis-2009]

"Abnormal Heart Rhythm. It''s because today he found out he''s not on the bail out list.

[easeup-2009]

CBS lobs a softball to the hysterical libs!!

Let the temper tantrums commence!

[a2s2d]

When McLame kicks she''s gonna be JUST GREAT for AmeriKa.....hmmmmmm?????

[a2s2d]

Meet Sarah Palin%u2019s radical right-wing pals
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/10/10/palin_chryson/

Extremists Mark Chryson and Steve Stoll helped launch Palin%u2019s political career in Alaska, and in return had influence over policy. %u201CHer door was open,%u201D says Chryson %u2014 and still is.

Though Chryson belongs to a fringe political party that advocates the secession of Alaska from the Union, he is not without peculiar influence in state politics, especially the rise of Sarah Palin. During the 1990s, when Chryson directed the AIP, he and another radical right-winger, Steve Stoll, played pivotal role in electing Palin as mayor of Wasilla and shaping her political agenda afterward. Both Stoll and Chryson not only contributed to Palin%u2019s campaign financially, they played major behind-the-scenes roles in the Palin camp before, during and after her victory.

Palin backed Chryson as he successfully advanced a host of anti-tax, pro-gun initiatives, including one that altered the state Constitution%u2019s language to better facilitate the formation of anti-government militias. She joined in their vendetta against several local officials they disliked, and listened to their advice about hiring. She attempted to name Stoll, a John Birch Society activist to an empty Wasilla City Council seat. %u201CEvery time I showed up her door was open,%u201D said Chryson. %u201CAnd that policy continued when she became governor.%u201D

[byeneocons]

Cheney has a heart?

[irmcvet97]

Wouldn''t THAT be a great way to start the new year... a NEW YOUNG INTELLIGENT Leader and a chance to bury this piece of trash!!

[sleepyric]

They actually opened him up and took a look at his heart - it was black and cold!

[tigerrram9]

I am not happy with what happened to D. Chenney, but I believe it''s a sign America. God Forbid, What would happen if McCain had a similiar of worst medical situation. He is much more mature than Chenney. Imaginge who would be leading this Country, Sarah Palin and Todd Palin behind her giving advise. I honestly believe that this is a sign to all of you who think this cannot happen to Senator McCain. If he had chosen someone more experienced, I would not be writing this...but he made a bad choice with Sarah Palin/Todd Palin.
America, use your best judgement. Do you want an inexperience MAVERICK running our country. Remember what the findings were in the investigation in Alaska. Violation of the ethic codes and gave Todd too much power & access to her senior advisors in her administration.
Think it over, the decision and the fate of our country is in your hands. We do not need an inexperience maverick and a self appointed advisor in the White House.
America we are a great country...we deserve better.

[donevis-2009]

Ha! Irregular Heart beat issues surfaced after opening his personal stock report for this years 3rd quarter.

[mswolfestock]

This is just SUCH a hoax -------

He doesn''t HAVE a heart
or a personality
or a soul

He is Evil Personified. He needs a big wooden stake driven through his chest cavity - that should do the trick.

[pkelly79]

"In his checkup in July, doctors said Cheney''s heart was beating normally for a man of his age and health history."

hahaha - as in ''its not beating normally at all''.

[a2s2d]

Meet Sarah Palin%u2019s radical right-wing pals
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/10/10/palin_chryson/

Extremists Mark Chryson and Steve Stoll helped launch Palin%u2019s political career in Alaska, and in return had influence over policy. %u201CHer door was open,%u201D says Chryson %u2014 and still is.

Though Chryson belongs to a fringe political party that advocates the secession of Alaska from the Union, he is not without peculiar influence in state politics, especially the rise of Sarah Palin. During the 1990s, when Chryson directed the AIP, he and another radical right-winger, Steve Stoll, played pivotal role in electing Palin as mayor of Wasilla and shaping her political agenda afterward. Both Stoll and Chryson not only contributed to Palin%u2019s campaign financially, they played major behind-the-scenes roles in the Palin camp before, during and after her victory.

Palin backed Chryson as he successfully advanced a host of anti-tax, pro-gun initiatives, including one that altered the state Constitution%u2019s language to better facilitate the formation of anti-government militias. She joined in their vendetta against several local officials they disliked, and listened to their advice about hiring. She attempted to name Stoll, a John Birch Society activist to an empty Wasilla City Council seat. %u201CEvery time I showed up her door was open,%u201D said Chryson. %u201CAnd that policy continued when she became governor.%u201D

[inventagod2]

''Must be something wrong with your keyboard... lemme see

******** Cheney, Vice President of the United States

Yep! Works just fine


Posted by Nancy_Naive''

***Thanks, Nancy - I will remit payment to you immediately for the repair!

DlCK CHENEY
DlCK CHENEY
DlCK CHENEY
DlCK CHENEY

yup, working perfectly!
now I can get started on his epitaph...

[tawabill]

You liberals are a bunch of sickos! How can you say such things? *** Cheney is an honest and decent man!

Posted by gop_will_win
-----------------------------------

You did the brown acid at Woodstock, didn''t you?

[brianbwb-2009]

Keep Mr. Cheney alive long enough for the war crimes and treason trials, or at least before he pops, we need to serve him with a class action on behalf of all the families of soldiers who died in Iraq.

Take every penny that can be traced to him, give $10 million per family to each of the families, the rest goes to pay for the health care of all the wounded.

Start on Bush also, before he leaves for Paraguay, his money goes to the debt he created with his lies.

Then do an eminent domain of Blackwater, Bechtel, and Halliburton, and the other war profiteers.

[observantx]

Hmmmmm

Musta been daydreaming about waterboarding and worked up a chubby.

[middleman8]

Remember mr cheny, Sudam is waiting for you and he has seniority down there.

[caribel-2009]

Let''s plop him down outside the gates of the Green Zone in Bagdad and see how long he lasts.

[hangelle]

2.8 million Americans have atrial fibrillation. I wonder how many of them have access to the medical care this war criminal has.

[sfden]

There''s universal care in IRAQ now. Go darken their doorstep.

[nursehope]

I hope he stays alive long enough to be tried as a war criminal..

[wootang]

Hell is not hot enough for this piece of filth.
I SPIT ON *** CHENEY! YOU ********!
I hope you live the rest of your miserable life in agonizing PAIN!

[sfden]

These comments are naughty naughty and make me tingle all over, much the same way heart attack boy feels when he''s planning a new war from from his undisclosed location. Murderer.