Sarkozy hospitalised: French presidency

[tocqueville]

Source: AFP

29 mins ago

PARIS (AFP) – France's President Nicolas Sarkozy was taken to hospital on Sunday after falling ill while exercising, his office told AFP.
The 54-year-old leader was examined by his doctor and underwent medical tests after falling ill, a statement from the Elysee Palace said.

Later, officials in his office said Sarkozy had been taken to hospital after suffering some kind of illness while exercising at La Lanterne, his weekend retreat near the Palace of Versailles outside Paris.

He was thought to have been taken to the Val de Grace military hospital, a well-placed source said. A military helicopter was seen flying over the Versailles forest.
Sarkozy, who assumed the presidency in May 2007, is a fitness enthusiast, and is often seen jogging or cycling with aides and bodyguards.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090726/wl_afp/francepoliticssarkozyhealth_20090726133513

[47of74]

1. Hope he's ok

[hlthe2b]

7. Me too...

He's far too conservative and celebrity-driven for my taste, but he was fairly elected and I wish him well.

[Buzz Clik]

2. Probably some well known social disease.

[Captain Hilts]

4. Conservatism?

[timeforpeace]

8. French conservatives like him would be called Democrats here.

I hope Carla realizes he's getting on in years and takes it easy on him.

[tocqueville]

10. agrees : Sarkozy is to the left of a Blue Dog Democrat. nt

[tocqueville]

11. update : it's a vasovagal episode

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasovagal_syncope

In people with vasovagal episodes, the episodes are typically recurrent, usually happening when the person is exposed to a specific trigger. The initial episode often occurs when the person is a teenager, then recurs in clusters throughout his or her life. Prior to losing consciousness, the individual frequently experiences a prodrome of symptoms such as lightheadedness, nausea, sweating, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), uncomfortable feeling in the heart, weakness and visual disturbances such as lights seeming too bright, fuzzy or tunnel vision. These last for at least a few seconds before consciousness is lost (if it is lost), which typically happens when the person is sitting up or standing. When sufferers pass out, they fall down (unless this is impeded); and when in this position, effective blood flow to the brain is immediately restored, allowing the person to wake up.

http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2009/07/26/01011-20090726FILWWW00098-sarkozymalaise-considere-comme-mineur.php

it's a minor fainting, like the one you can have when triggered by raising rapidly...

[Happyhippychick]

12. I've had these and I have fainted. This makes you feel like you are dying, it's so much worse.

[dgibby]

14. I have had these episodes for 30+ years.

Fortunately, I can always feel one coming on, so take corrective measures immediately, eg, bending over to lower head, coughing, sitting down, etc. Sometimes I faint, sometimes not. My pulse rate drops into the low 30's, then rebounds to high 160's, then levels off. I had a brazillion dollar work up, but all the tests kept coming back negative, so I figured it was vasovagal.

I told my sister that if that's the way I'm going to die, it's a great way to go--a little like falling asleep.

[JDPriestly]

16. My amateur, long-distance diagnosis: He's had high blood pressure

for a long time and needs to take some blood pressure medicine.

[Captain Hilts]

3. Be well, Nick. nt

[Vidar]

5. I wish him well.

[tocqueville]

6. he passed out while jogging an Carla immediately arrived on a motorbike

Selon une bonne source de l'entourage de Nicolas Sarkozy, son épouse Carla "se trouve actuellement à ses côtés". Une source gouvernementale a indiqué que le malaise du chef de l'État s'est produit à Versailles, qui abrite la résidence de la Lanterne, contiguë au parc du Château, et où le chef de l'État passe volontiers le week-end.

Une personne qui a requis l'anonymat et qui se promenait au château en début d'après-midi a raconté à l'AFP avoir vu entre 13 heures et 13 h 30 un homme de dos en train de faire son footing dans l'allée de la Lanterne. Selon elle, l'homme était entouré de gardes du corps. Il avait l'air fatigué. Puis elle l'a vu s'écrouler. Ce témoin indique avoir vu Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, épouse du chef de l'État, arriver sur les lieux sur une moto. Puis, toujours selon la même source, un hélicoptère s'est posé vers 13 h 40, avant de repartir. Un autre hélicoptère blanc a suivi de peu et est reparti sans que le témoin ait pu voir qui était à bord. Un gros hélicoptère militaire a été vu par des témoins habitant Versailles en train de survoler la ville.

http://www.lepoint.fr/actualites-politique/2009-07-26/victime-d-un-malaise-nicolas-sarkozy-hospitalise/917/0/364526

According to a source close to Nicolas Sarkozy, his wife Carla "is at his side"; A government source said that the malaise of the Head of State happened at Versailles, which houses the residence of the Lantern, adjacent to the park to the castle, and the Head of State likes to be there the weekend.

A person who has requested anonymity and who was walking to the castle in the early afternoon told AFP that he saw between 13 am and 13.30 am the back of a man jogging in the aisle de la Lanterne. She says the man was surrounded by bodyguards. He looked tired. Then she saw him collapse. The witness reported seeing Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, wife of head of state, arriving at the scene on a motorcycle. Then, according to the same source, a helicopter landed at 13.40 h, then left. Another white helicopter arrived shortly after and left without the witness could see who was aboard. A large military helicopter was seen by witnesses living in Versailles flying over the city.

(translation Babelfish)

[Captain Hilts]

9. I hope he's okay and can continue to work out. nt

[opihimoimoi]

13. too much vulvagra`??

[DarthDem]

15. Regrettable

I hope he feels better.

[Captain Hilts]

17. Does anyone know how hot it was? Running in the heat can make me wobbly. nt