Hospital releases Cheney
– no heart abnormalities

Vice President Dick Cheney has left a Washington hospital following medical tests.

The tests, reportedly, showed no heart abnormalities – a concern, given Cheney’s long history of cardiovascular problems. He told reporters he felt “fine” while leaving the hospital with his wife, Lynn.

“Tests ruled out any cardiac cause of the vice president’s symptoms,” said Dr. Jonathan Reiner, Chaeney’s cardiologist. “Tests also ruled out pneumonia and other pulmonary causes. The vice president likely has a viral, upper respiratory infection.”

The vice president had been transported to a Washington, D.C. hospital earlier today following complaints of shortness of breath, White House spokesmen said.

“On the recommendation of his doctors, the vice president is going to George Washington University Hospital for some tests,” spokesman Ken Lisaius told reporters. “He experienced some shortness of breath Saturday morning and has had a bad cold, which could be the cause for the shortness of breath.”

Cheney has a history of heart trouble, having experienced four heart attacks in the past. His first was in 1978 when he was 37 years old. Following a third heart attack in 1988, Cheney had quadruple bypass surgery. He had a pacemaker implanted in 2001. The device was reportedly still working properly during his May 11, 2004, checkup when he was given a clean bill of health by his doctors.

Cheney, 63, had returned from a hunting trip this week with a cold that left him short of breath, Republican strategist Mary Matalin told Associated Press. Despite feeling fine otherwise, his cardiologist recommended he go to the hospital for tests, given his health history.

“When I talked to him, he sounded just fine,” Matalin said.

The vice president reportedly went to the hospital in a motorcade from his residence and walked in unassisted. No ambulance was called.