Vice President Cheney Treated For A Blood Clot

A blood clot was discovered in Vice President Dick Cheney's left leg Monday. Cheney visited his doctor after feeling minor discomfort in his calf. An ultrasound showed the blood clot - a deep venous thrombosis - in his left lower leg.

This is a serious medical condition that could be fatal if left untreated:

Blood clots that form deep in the legs can become killers if they break off and float into the lungs. This is called a pulmonary embolism. Deep vein thrombosis strikes an estimated 2 million Americans each year, killing 60,000.

The good news is that the condition, when treated properly constitutes a relatively small threat. Vice President Cheney will be treated with blood-thinning medication for several months. The vice president may not be going on another nine-day trip that requires 65 hours of flying any time soon. Other than that Cheney should be fine.

The Vice President returned from the doctor's office and continued his work day. His spokesperson says he feels fine and will maintain his regular schedule.

This isn't an unpredented situation. President Richard Nixon also suffered from deep-vein thrombosis when he was in office.