Cheney undergoes routine heart checkup, doctor gives him clean bill of health

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Vice President Dick Cheney said he received a clean bill of health Friday after a routine cardiovascular exam. <br><br>``Given my history, they watch me very closely, but about every

Friday, September 13th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Vice President Dick Cheney said he received a clean bill of health Friday after a routine cardiovascular exam.

``Given my history, they watch me very closely, but about every six months ... they download my defibrillator that's implanted in my shoulder, and make sure my heart is OK and give me a going over,'' Cheney told ``The Rush Limbaugh Show.''

Cheney has had four heart attacks, none as vice president. ``Everything is fine,'' he told Limbaugh.

Cheney spokeswoman Mary Matalin said the vice president's high-tech pacemaker ``continues to function flawlessly and has not detected nor treated any arrhythmia.''

The device, implanted in June 2001, is designed to monitor his heart and if necessary adjust its rhythm.

Cheney had been staying at a secure undisclosed location since President Bush put the nation on high alert earlier this week, but resumed a normal schedule Friday. He met in the afternoon with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, who told reporters afterward: ``May I say in gossip, I found the vice president looking as strong and healthy as one can think; it pleased me very much.''

Matalin said the vice president's doctor, Jonathan Reiner, reported that Cheney will ``continue to live a vigorous lifestyle.''