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By HealthDay staff
HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Former President George W. Bush returned home Wednesday after successfully undergoing heart surgery for a blocked artery Tuesday morning in Dallas.
Spokesman Freddy Ford said Bush was discharged from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Wednesday morning and "is doing great," according to a report by the Associated Press.
Bush, 67, had a stent placed in an artery during the Tuesday procedure, which was done after an artery blockage was found during his annual physical Monday.
The blockage was discovered at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas and, following a recommendation by his doctors, Bush agreed to go ahead with the procedure.
The 43rd president, known to be an avid outdoor enthusiast, is expected to resume his normal schedule Thursday, a statement from his office said.
"He is grateful to the skilled medical professionals who have cared for him. He thanks his family, friends, and fellow citizens for their prayers and well wishes. And he encourages us all to get our regular check-ups," the statement added.
CNN reported that Bush's annual exam in 2006 showed that he had no signs of hypertension or stroke, and had a "low" to "very low" coronary artery disease risk profile with an absence of modifiable risk factors.
The 2006 report also said he had "minimal/mild" coronary artery calcification, a common sign of early artery disease in which the lining of aortic wall becomes inflamed and plaque starts to build up over time, CNN added.
Tuesday's statement from Bush's office offered no details on the artery blockage that was discovered.
Heart experts were quick to echo Bush's reminder on getting regular check-ups.
Dr. Lawrence Phillips, an assistant professor in the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, said, "Heart disease can attack anyone. We know that by decreasing an individual's risk factors, we can significantly decrease the risk of developing coronary artery disease, a narrowing of the blood vessels that bring blood to the heart muscle. Risk factors that can be modified include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and stopping smoking."
He added, "Sometimes we are fooled to think that heart disease only impacts people who are overweight, eat unhealthy and have multiple medical problems. That is just not true. Our job in the medical community is to educate people to know their own risk factors, how to modify them, and when you need to have more of an evaluation."
Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, spokeswoman for the American Heart Association and a cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said that Bush "underwent a stent implantation of his coronary artery due to an abnormal stress test."
She added, "Blockages of the artery, or atherosclerosis, develop from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, stress, sedentary lifestyle and family history. His job now will be to modify those risk factors to keep all of them in check."