Former President Bill Clinton has been released from New York Presbyterian Hospital’s campus at Columbia University after undergoing a procedure yesterday to treat a clogged artery. Clinton had recurring chest pains over the past several days, which prompted him to seek medical attention. Two stents were inserted into the clogged artery in an hour long procedure. Clinton’s cardiologist Alan Schartz said the former president would make a full recovery and that this procedure was a not a result of lifestyle or diet choices but rather “…is part of the natural history. Just as illnesses have natural histories, treatments have natural histories.” Clinton underwent quadruple bypass surgery at the same hospital in 2004.
Clinton’s daughter Chelsea and wife Secretary of State Hillary Clinton joined him at the hospital last night. President Obama called Clinton around 7 pm to wish him a speedy recovery. Clinton told Obama he felt great and wants to return as soon as possible to his relief work in Haiti.