Bill Clinton to leave hospital today and return to work Monday

Clinton was taken to hospital after he reported a chest discomfort. He did not show any signs of heart attack or heart damage, but the doctors placed stents in one of his arteries, which had blocked.

Clinton's cardiologist, Dr. Allan Schwartz, told reporters that the procedure went smoothly and that Clinton will be back home today.

Further, Clinton’s aide Douglas Band said in a statement, “President Clinton is in good spirits and will continue to focus on the work of his foundation and Haiti’s relief and long-term recovery efforts.”

Clinton’s heart troubles
This is not the first time that the former president has got his blocked arteries fixed.

Clinton had undergone a quadruple bypass surgery in 2004 after doctors found that Clinton’s heart disease was widespread, with some of the arteries blocked over 90 percent.

Then in March 2005, Clinton had again undergone a surgery to correct minor complications that resulted due to a major bypass surgery he had undergone a year earlier.

According to heart experts, he may have to undergo such procedures in future too as heart disease has no cure. But they assured that such procedures do not shorten life span.

Dr. Cam Patterson, cardiology chief at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, told The Washington Post, “We see people who come in like this every four to five years. Essentially, it's a tuneup."

Dr. Clyde Yancy, a cardiologist at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, added that the disease is progressive so it needs constant examination.

Despite healthy lifestyle, Clinton still big on fries
Clinton’s cardiologist has stated that the heart surgery was not due to lifestyle and dietary problem but because of the side effects seen in patients who undergo such surgeries.

Though the former president has improved his lifestyle, like taking a healthy diet, exercising more etc., Clinton has not given up eating fries completely.

One of Clinton’s friends was quoted by CNN as saying, “While he eats a lot better than he used to, he certainly indulges every once in a while consistent with past behavior -- [for example] fries with his fish."

The friend added that he still works late till night. "He has gone from a frenetic pace to what most people would consider a frenetic pace. He's approaching Social Security, and he's living a life not that different from his 30s," he said.