George W. Bush Has Heart Surgery

Former President George W. Bush had heart surgery on Tuesday morning after doctors discovered a blockage in one of his arteries.

During Bush's annual physical examination in Dallas on Monday, doctors found the blockage. On Tuesday morning, doctors placed a stent in his artery. The surgery was performed at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the former president's office said:

President Bush is in high spirits, eager to return home tomorrow and resume his normal schedule on Thursday. He is grateful to the skilled medical professionals who have cared for him. He thanks his family, friends, and fellow citizens for their prayers and well wishes. And he encourages us all to get our regular check-ups.

In 2004, former President Bill Clinton had a quadruple coronary artery bypass surgery. Five years later, he had two stents inserted into one of his arteries after one of the bypass grafts became obstructed in 2010.

Following his heart issues, Clinton became a vegan and lost 30 pounds. In a recent interview with AARP The Magazine, the former president discussed his diet change:

I just decided that I was the high-risk person, and I didn't want to fool with this anymore. And I wanted to live to be a grandfather. So I decided to pick the diet that I thought would maximize my chances of long-term survival.

Bush is known for his active life-style, including mountain bike rides with wounded veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.