Bush suffers brief fainting episode

By Ron Fournier

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Bush fainted briefly in the White House residence Sunday after a pretzel he was eating went down wrong as he watched a National Football League playoff game on television, White House physician Dr. Richard Tubb said.

The doctor said Bush quickly recovered and was doing well.

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

Bush, 55, 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 said he had been feeling under the weather Saturday and Sunday.

"He had not been feeling well the last couple of days," said Tubb, although Bush had exercised rigorously Saturday and had a lighter workout Sunday. Tubb said Bush has felt "a little off his game," as if he was coming down with a head cold.

Bush plans to travel to the Midwest today as planned, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said. The plan was for Tubb to first give the president a quick checkup to make sure there was no lingering effect from the fainting incident.

The president fainted while alone in a room at the White House residence, watching the Baltimore-Miami football game while his wife, first lady Laura Bush, was in a nearby room on the telephone.

"He said it (the pretzel) didn’t seem to go down right," Tubb said. "The next thing he knew, he was on the floor."

Asked if Bush had choked, Fleischer said, "Nobody here has used the word ‘choking.’ If you choke, you know it when you come to. The president said it just didn’t go down right.”

A nurse on duty at the White House was summoned at 5:40 p.m. EST. Tubb was paged eight minutes later. Bush, under his own power, used an elevator to go downstairs to the doctor’s office for a complete exam.

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.

"But the dogs were looking at him funny," Fleischer said.

Tubb said Bush’s exam included the use of a heart monitor, and nothing out of the normal was found. His blood pressure and pulse were normal for Bush, Tubb said.

However, the doctor said Bush has a lower-than-normal pulse rate, which doctors attribute to his rigorous workout regime. The pretzel apparently stimulated a nerve, which further slowed his heart rate, Tubb said. That, combined with feeling under the weather, apparently caused the fainting spell, Tubb said.

The medical term for Bush’s episode is vasovagal fainting, Tubb said.

In such cases, the body sends a signal to the heart via the vagus nerve that slows the heart rate enough to cause a brief fainting spell. Among other things, the nerve can be stimulated by fear and intestinal cramps.

Fainting spells can be brought on by a lack of oxygen caused by choking, but Tubb said Bush’s episode appeared be caused by a stimulated nerve.

Copyright ©2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Three injured after high-speed, head-on collision on Highway 522

Washington State Patrol is investigating the crash that happened before 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

Fernando Espinoza salts the sidewalk along Fifth Avenue South on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Think this is cold, Snohomish County? Wait until Tuesday

Tuesday could bring dangerous wind chill during the day and an overnight low of 19 degrees

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

The Washington State Department of Licensing office is seen in 2018 in Seattle. (Sue Misao / The Herald)
Drivers licensing offices to close Feb. 14-17

Online services are also not available Feb. 10-17. The Washington State Department of Licensing said the move is necessary to upgrade software.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.