Zipes said the stent procedure performed on Cheney is a form of angioplasty, which is a general term for the clearing out of blood vessels. It is usually successful in opening up arteries and restoring blood flow, Zipes said. However, if this doesn't solve the problem, doctors may have to perform open-heart surgery to repair the arteries. Before becoming George W. Bush's running mate, Cheney underwent an extensive medical examination at Washington University Hospital and received a clean bill of health. Doctors say it depends on the person.
Some people love to be in the middle of the action and are actually happier in that situation.
Cheney's previous heart attacks cannot be dismissed, experts say. But Cheney, with the damaged vessel, can be more predisposed to the effects of stress and it could result in the chest pain that he has had. It is not the cause of the problem, those have accumulated throughout many years. Other doctors say Cheney can handle the stress. He served as defense secretary under Bush's father, President George Bush, and most recently as chairman of Halliburton Co., a Texas-based Fortune 500 energy services company.