George Bush Hospitalized For Complications Related To Bronchitis
Former United States President George H.W. Bush was hospitalized for bronchitis after being in and out of the hospital for weeks following a severe cough, according to reports.
The 88-year-old former commander-in-chief was taken in due to "an abundance of caution" because of his old age, according to NBC News.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Methodist Hospital said the following:
"President Bush has been in and out of The Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center being treated for complications related to his bronchitis. He is in stable condition, and is expected to be released within the next 72 hours."
Although it's considered a common sickness, bronchitis can turn into a serious problem for individuals with a weak immune system, which mainly affects children and the elderly. It's a condition where the bronchial tubes become swollen and produce mucus, which creates the need to cough, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Symptoms of the ailment include chest pain, weakness and coughing that can last around for three weeks or as long as two months.
While Bush's sickness is concerning, it is "very, very common" and shouldn't threaten his life, stated Dr. Zab Mosenifar, a medical director of the Women's Guild Lung Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif. "As far as I know, he doesn't have history of smoking. He is a healthy person and he should do fine."
While the former president's current health status seems promising, it's still a possibility that the sickness could progress into pneumonia, which is a frequent byproduct of bronchitis. If that were the case, Bush could require antibiotics and further treatment.
Bush was the 41st president of the U.S. and served from 1989-1993. Although he came up short in his first bid at the Republican nomination for the presidency in 1980, he did serve two terms as Ronald Reagan's running mate.
