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President Faints at White House WASHINGTON –– President Bush fainted briefly in the White House residence Sunday after choking on a pretzel while watching a National Football League playoff game on television, White House physician Dr. Richard Tubb said.

The doctor, an Air Force colonel, said Bush quickly recovered and is doing well.

"I do not find any reason that this would happen again," said Tubb. "He fainted due to a temporary decrease in heart rate brought on by swallowing a pretzel."

Tubb said Bush suffered an abrasion on his left cheek the size of a half dollar and a bruise on his lower lip, apparently from falling onto the floor from a couch.

Bush was alone in the room watching TV while his wife, first lady Laura Bush, was in a nearby room on the telephone.

Tubb said Bush believes he was out only for a few seconds because when he awoke, his two dogs were sitting in the same position they were when he lost consciousness.

"He said it (the pretzel) didn't seem to go down right," Tubb said.

The fainting spell occurred at approximately 5:35 p.m. EST and Bush contacted a nurse on duty at the White House five minutes later. Tubb was paged eight minutes later and rushed to the White House to examine the president.

Tubb said Bush, under his own power, took an elevator from the second floor of the residence to the first floor doctor's office where he underwent a through examination that included use of a heart monitor.

His blood pressure and pulse were normal, Tubb said.

Bush has a lower-than-normal pulse rate, which doctors attribute to his rigorous workout regime. But Tubbs said that low heart rate made him more prone to fainting when the pretzel stimulated a nerve when it got caught in his throat.

He said Bush had complained Saturday and Sunday of "being a little off his game," feeling that he was coming down with a head cold.

White House spokesman Ari Fleisher said Bush intended to keep his regular schedule Monday, which includes an early morning trip to the Midwest.

Bush was watching the Baltimore-Miami game when the incident occurred.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Answers

"Tubb said Bush believes he was out only for a few seconds because when he awoke, his two dogs were sitting in the same position they were when he lost consciousness."

As opposed to what, cats? I think those dogs are pretty comitose most of the time, especially if the pretzel had already diappeared. And if it hadn't, they lose points for not snatching it.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

can't imagine the dogs snatching the pretzel. what did you think they would do? go for his jugular? LOL

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

"Tubb said Bush suffered an abrasion on his left cheek the size of a half dollar and a bruise on his lower lip, apparently from falling onto the floor from a couch."

This indicates a need for legislation to mandate Safe Pretzeling.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Seat belts with shoulder harness need to be installed on all couches in the White House ASAP. That would have protected him from injury.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

From the Democratic Perspective: Sounds to me like he bet an enormous wad of cash on Miami, probably on the advice of his brother Jeb.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Peter,

LOL, in fact ROTFLMAO

apoc

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

apoc, careful you don't hurt yourself...

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Brooks,

Yep, I'm being very careful. Today is my first day back at actual work. Heck, I didn't drive until last Friday. It was so... em... strange that I didn't do it again until this morning when I had to.

In all the rushing around to get ready, I forgot my pain meds.

apoc

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Then congratulations for making it that far. Hope today isn't too rough for you.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Yes, be careful, Apoc. Let someone else handle the cooking chores this week.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002