| GWEN IFILL: President
Bush returned to a full work schedule this morning after briefly losing
consciousness and fainting yesterday. The White House said the President
gagged on a pretzel while watching a football game in the White House
residence yesterday evening. He later told aides he was alone in the room
with only his dogs, Barney and Spot. The President told reporters today
that he fell off the couch and was unconscious, but apparently only for
a short time.
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: I hit the deck and... Woke up, and there
was Barney and Spot showing a lot of concern. I didn't realize what
happened till I looked in the mirror. My glasses cut the side of my
face.
GWEN IFILL: President Bush contacted a nurse five minutes later, was
checked by a physician, and immediately underwent a series of examinations,
including neurological tests and an electrocardiogram. All proved normal.
The President's physician, Dr. Richard Tubb, said he could "not
find any reason this would happen again." Tubb said the pretzel
went down the wrong way, causing the President to cough and triggering
a common reaction known as vasovagal syncope. That occurs when a nerve
called the vagus nerve near the brain stem sends a signal to the heart
to slow the heart rate, leading to fainting and unconsciousness. The
President, who exercises regularly and who runs a seven- minute mile,
is considered to be in terrific shape. Doctors say that due to his workouts,
he does have a lower- than-normal pulse, and that may have contributed
to the fainting. For his part, the President made light of the whole
incident. Aboard Air Force One today, the President even sent a bag
of pretzels to reporters. Then he joked about it at the start of a trade
speech today at a John Deere plant in East Moline, Illinois.
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: I thought for a while, when they told me
that I was going to receive a gift here, that old Chuck was going to
bring a pretzel -- (Laughter) -- those kind that are easy to chew. (Laughter)
If my mother is listening, mother, I should've listened to you: (Laughter)
"Always chew your pretzels before you swallow." (Cheers and
applause)
GWEN IFILL: The President also said he was fighting a cold this weekend.
His doctor said stress had nothing to do with the scare
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