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Cheney's health

Doctors discovered a blood clot in Vice President Dick Cheney's left leg yesterday, a condition that could be fatal if left untreated.

The 66-year-old Mr. Cheney, who has a history of heart problems, will be treated with blood-thinning medication for several months, said spokeswoman Lea Anne McBride.

She said Mr. Cheney visited his doctor's office in Washington after feeling minor discomfort in his calf. An ultrasound showed the blood clot -- called a deep venous thrombosis -- in his left lower leg.

Blood clots that form deep in the legs can become killers if they break off and float into the lungs. That is called a pulmonary embolism. Deep-vein thrombosis strikes an estimated 2 million Americans each year, killing 60,000. Many people suffer DVT after spending long periods without moving, such as passengers on long-haul airline flights. Mr. Cheney spent about 65 hours on a plane on a nine-day, round-the-world trip that ended last week.

"When you're just sitting there with your legs hanging down for long periods of time, that's what predisposes you to the problem," said Dr. Sean O'Donnell, chief of vascular surgery of Washington Hospital Center.

"Treated properly, it poses a small threat," Dr. O'Donnell said. "Untreated and unrecognized, it's a very serious problem."

Mr. Cheney returned to the White House after the medical exam and continued his workday, the Associated Press reported.

Seeking privacy