Clinton's Doctor Says 'Prognosis Is Excellent' Following Heart Procedure

President Bill Clinton underwent a procedure to clear a blocked artery Thursday, after he was admitted to a New York hospital with chest pains. Doctors say the low-risk procedure to insert a stent went well and that the 63-year-old former president is on the mend.

"His prognosis is excellent," said Clinton's cardiologist Dr. Allan Schwartz at a press conference on Thursday evening, according to Time.com. "President Clinton has since been up and walking around, and visiting with his family. He's in good spirits. We hope to have him go home tomorrow."

Schwartz added that the blocked artery was not the result of lifestyle or diet and that the former president's cholesterol levels are excellent.

You'll remember that in 2004, Clinton had quadruple bypass surgery to clear four clogged arteries. Since then, he has improved his diet and exercise and shed some excess weight, but his doctor said that heart disease is a progressive illness and it's not uncommon for the arteries to become clogged again several years after a bypass.

Clinton's daughter, Chelsea, and wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (who was in DC earlier Thursday) were both at the hospital by Thursday evening.

The Los Angeles Times reports that stents have become a common way to clear arteries blocked with plaque, with about a million of the procedures performed in the country every year. The process involves inserting a tube through the groin up into the clogged artery where it is expanded to open the passageway for blood flow.

A spokesperson for the president said Thursday evening that 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, who has been working with former President George W. Bush on raising money for earthquake relief through the the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, was just in Haiti for the second time last week.

Photo courtesy of Jayu via Wikimedia Commons.