Tuesday, 27 November 2007, 02:01 GMT

US Vice President Dick Cheney has had treatment for a irregular heart beat.

Doctors at George Washington University Hospital gave him an electrical shock to restore the heart's normal rhythm.

Mr Cheney, who has a history of heart conditions, spent two and a half hours there after seeking treatment for "a lingering cough from a cold".

Mr Cheney, 66, has had four heart attacks, quadruple bypass surgery and operations to clear blocked arteries. He was fitted with a pacemaker in 2001.

In July, the vice president had minor surgery to replace the pacemaker's battery which was running low.

Mr Cheney has also had operations to clear blood clots in his knees and in March started taking blood-thinning medicine to treat another blood clot in his lower left leg.
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In spite of the cost of health insurance today, their admission policies have become stricter. Many companies put restrictions on covering certain conditions such as cancer, asthma, epilepsy, heart conditions, and many more that require long-term treatment. They restrict the type of medications they will cover in an attempt to force patients to use over the counter medications that are less effective, especially for allergies. They want subscribers to pay more money, while they cover less on their end.

CZ - Can I ask two stupid questions?

Is this another lie Cheney is telling?

Don't you have to have a heart to have an heart attack?

Just asking lol.