'Breathless' Cheney Goes Into Hospital for Heart Tests

Vice-President Dick Cheney, who has a history of serious heart problems, underwent tests at a Washington hospital yesterday, after suffering from shortness of breath.

Cheney, 63, has had four heart attacks in the past 26 years and been given quadruple by-pass surgery. He was also fitted with a pacemaker placed in June 2001.

But White House spokesman Ken Lisaius played down the seriousness of the situation. He said Cheney had been suffering from a cold, and the shortness of breath might be related to that. 'He experienced some shortness of breath on Saturday morning and has had a bad cold, which could be the cause,' he said. Cheney's own cardiologist, Jonathan Reiner, was overseeing the tests.

Cheney, who rarely appeared at public events during the first four years of President George Bush's first term, campaigned regularly during the recent presidential election. He made long tours of the country with his wife, Lynne, and spoke at regular campaign stops. In recent months he has dismissed speculation over his health, saying that he felt fine and his health had been good.

Cheney's last heart check-up earlier this year determined that his pacemaker was working well and had not yet had to assist his heart.

Cheney's first heart attack occurred in 1978, when he was just 37. His fourth was on 22 November 2000, just after he and Bush won the White House. After that attack, Cheney quit smoking and began taking regular exercise. He also takes medication to lower his cholesterol.