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Sarkozy falls ill while jogging | Sarkozy falls ill while jogging |
(about 3 hours later) | |
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been taken to hospital after becoming ill while jogging. | |
Mr Sarkozy's chief of staff said the president was "doing well" and talking normally with medics at the military hospital, AFP news agency reported. | Mr Sarkozy's chief of staff said the president was "doing well" and talking normally with medics at the military hospital, AFP news agency reported. |
The 54-year-old president is remaining there overnight for what officials said were "routine" tests. | |
He was flown to the hospital earlier after suffering what was described as a "minor" nerve complaint. | |
Mr Sarkozy was taken ill while jogging during a humid afternoon at a weekend retreat at the Chateau of Versailles, outside Paris. | |
The incident occurred after 45 minutes of "intensive physical exercise", his office said in a statement. | |
The president is going to have to take more care, work a little less hard and eat a little bit more French parliamentarian Patrick Balkany | |
It denied earlier statements that he had lost consciousness. Mr Sarkozy lay down and received immediate treatment from a personal doctor. | |
He was flown to the Val de Grace hospital by helicopter, where he was later joined by his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. | |
A spokesman said he had also summoned aides to his bedside to keep him up to date with world events. | |
AFP said Mr Sarkozy had suffered a problem relating to his vagal nerve. | |
It said a condition known as vasovagal syncope could involve a brief loss of consciousness, and changes in the heart rate or blood pressure, especially if the person is dehydrated. | |
The vagal nerve is a major nerve that runs from the abdomen to the brain and controls many functions. | The vagal nerve is a major nerve that runs from the abdomen to the brain and controls many functions. |
Fitness regime | |
French member of parliament Patrick Balkany, an ally of Mr Sarkozy, said everything was "going well" and blamed the problem on a diet he said the president was following to lose weight. | |
"He's fine. He's hungry. He's complaining," he told French radio. | |
"The president is going to have to take more care, work a little less hard and eat a little bit more," he added. | |
Mr Sarkozy has cancelled an event on Monday but had not as yet changed his schedule for Tuesday. | |
The president is regularly seen running and is a keen cyclist. | |
The Elysee Palace said earlier this month that his last medical examination - on 3 July - showed normal results for cardiovascular and blood tests. | The Elysee Palace said earlier this month that his last medical examination - on 3 July - showed normal results for cardiovascular and blood tests. |
Shortly after his election, his first medical bulletin showed him to be in "good" health. | Shortly after his election, his first medical bulletin showed him to be in "good" health. |
He campaigned for greater transparency of presidential health bulletins during his presidential campaign, yet a brief hospital stay in late 2007 was not revealed until three months after it happened. | He campaigned for greater transparency of presidential health bulletins during his presidential campaign, yet a brief hospital stay in late 2007 was not revealed until three months after it happened. |
Several French presidents have been accused of glossing over health problems, notably the late Francois Mitterrand, who concealed that he was seriously ill with cancer. | Several French presidents have been accused of glossing over health problems, notably the late Francois Mitterrand, who concealed that he was seriously ill with cancer. |