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Subscribe to RSSU.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reportedly fainted from being dehydrated and suffered an apparent concussion in the incident. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
Updated at 6:45 p.m. ET: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton fainted days ago and suffered a concussion after becoming dehydrated because of a stomach virus, the State Department said Saturday.
"She has been recovering at home and will continue to be monitored regularly by her doctors. At their recommendation, she will continue to work from home next week, staying in regular contact with Department and other officials," the State Department said in a statement.
State Department officials said Clinton, 65, fainted earlier this week, although they would not specify when the incident occurred.
Saturday evening, the State Department issued a statement from Dr. Lisa Bardack of Mount Kisco Medical Group and Dr. Gigi El-Bayoumi of George Washington University:
"Secretary Clinton developed a stomach virus, leading to extreme dehydration, and subsequently fainted. Over the course of this week we evaluated her and ultimately determined she had also sustained a concussion. We recommended that the Secretary continue to rest and avoid any strenuous activity, and strongly advised her to cancel all work events for the coming week. We will continue to monitor her progress as she makes a full recovery."
NBC’s chief medical editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman said Clinton’s exhausting schedule could have made her susceptible to fainting. Clinton is known for her grueling travel schedule and has earned the distinction of being the secretary of state who has traveled the most.
“If a patient has been logging millions of miles a year and is tired and not eating or drinking the right things in a couple of days, a shift in blood volume can cause fainting,” Snyderman said.
This isn’t the first time Clinton passed out after having a stomach bug. As a U.S. senator representing New York, Clinton fainted in 2005 during a speech in Buffalo after complaining of a stomach virus.
A history of fainting could indicate underlying heart problems, Snyderman said, specifically “that the heart is not pumping correctly.”
“Heart valve or thyroid issues can be more common in older women,” Snyderman explained. “The standard protocol would be to have a cardiac workout to make sure her heart rhythm and heart valves are normal. You worry about the heart not beating correctly. That’s a very simple thing to check.”
She said that given Clinton’s past fainting episode, her doctors would likely put her through a cardiac stress test.
The concussion will have doctors “watching her like a hawk,” Snyderman said, particularly if Clinton hit the side of her head. If Clinton hit the back of her head, her brain would be better protected, she said.
Clinton canceled a trip to Morocco earlier in the week because she wasn't feeling well. She was scheduled to be in Morocco to officially recognize the Syrian rebels who have been engaged for nearly two years in an armed battle against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Kevin Lamarque / Reuters, file
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came down with a stomach bug earlier this week and fainted, suffering a concussion. Here she is pictured speaking during a news conference at Stormont Castle in Belfast, in Northern Ireland, on Dec. 7.
Due to her health, Clinton will no longer testify at a House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday on the attack on a U.S. mission in Libya.
"I am sorry to learn of Secretary Clinton's ill health and I wish her a quick and full recovery. It is, however, unfortunate that Secretary Clinton is unable to testify next week before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on the investigation into the terrorist attack that killed four Americans and left others injured," committee chairwoman Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., said in a statement.
Deputy Secretary William Burns and Deputy Secretary Thomas Nides will provide testimony in Clinton's absence.
"Although I respect Bill and Tom, we still don't have information from the Obama administration on what went so tragically wrong in Benghazi that resulted in the deaths of four patriotic Americans," Ros-Lehtinen said. "We have been combing through classified and unclassified documents and have tough questions about State Department threat assessments and decision-making on Benghazi. This requires a public appearance by the secretary of state herself. Other cabinet secretaries involved should also be held publicly accountable."
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Leave a Comment:
I remember that jackazz beating me out at the prezy thing but benghazi?????????????????
Looks like Evita Has already started dieting for the 1016 election.When you are that heavy,it takes presistence and a lot of time.She should become a vegan and eat nothnig but grass! Oh,that's right,that is what she eats.I wonder if she has scheduled the massive surgery to her neck and face that will be required.She looks like a turkey with that neck.She'll come back and be giving a press conference from her right ear.I understand she is going to use Joan Rivers 20 plastic surgeons just for her head.Oh Evita,we loves you!Now just go away!
HEADLINES:
Clinton will not testify before Congress on Libya, purported concussion cited
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/12/15/exclusive-clinton-will-not-testify-before-congress-on-libya-concussion-cited/#ixzz2F9nXaDou
I dont agree with her but I wish her the best in recovering... that being said
Please, PLEASE elect a grass roots person for president in 2016 (EVEN IF ITS A DEMOCRAT). Career politicians already have their motives tied down. We need a PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLE not a president who allows the banks to rule, as bush did and Obama is continuing. Every 4 years we elect another career politician and every 4 years its the same story. Vote for the person who gets the least corporate donations, donations are keywords for control.
That doesn't always help.. look at Scott Brown in Massachusetts... people elected him because he was as grass-roots as you can get, then once he got elected he did squat.. had about 32 town-hall meetings before elected, had ZERO after elected. Just shows that even "Grass Roots" politicians are out to get your vote only... they want a job, they don't actually plan on "working".
Hillary Clinton needs a nap.
come on now tell the truth. she was out partying again got drunk and passed out. or was she just celebrating the fact she won't be working for a bigger loser than her husband any more?
I wonder if I can drink enough of these rum 'n eggnogs to pull a Hillary...
hell leroy, you come across as a light weight, shouldn't take you more than a shot from the old brown paper bag.
Joe-1588888
If Hillary is responsible for the "four Americans" who died in Benghazi then Bush is responsible for the 3,056 who died on 9/11, right?
Sorry Joe but I don't recall the poor souls in the towers laser targeting the planes and asking for help as Bush watched in real time in the situation room.
I don't believe Hillary is responsible for the 4 deaths but this current government is responsible for giving the american people the truth about Benghazi. To me the entire ordeal, from Rice's misquotes, to Obama jetting off to Vegas the next day, to his "it's a you tube video" to Hillary's fainting spell just reeks of either incompetence or plain old lies.
Get well soon... maybe you and Billy boy need to start eating meat again to get your strength back ;)
They eat meat Only idiots believe the B.S. the MSM puts out its their smoking of various weeds and camels that do those 2 A holes in
How convenient!!!! I do believe complete amnesia will be the next story put out by the State Department and the Administration ..
Why can't they delay the date so that she can actually give testimony?
Do you actually think that the corrupt left would let that happen,this is all just a set up.
The democrats will obstruct any effort to reveal the truth.
I don't believe this. This is allowing Hillary a pass for something she's responsible for. She, not Susan Rice, should answer for Bengazi. This is cheap! I am a Democrat and I will not vote for her if she runs for president. Her record as Secretary of State is not that good. There is a reason why the Republicans are beginning to love her--she's turning into one of them.
I will vote for Jeb Bush instead.
Typical, Right out of the democrat playbook.
Clinton will not testify before Congress on Libya, purported concussion cited
You surprise me. What is it about her record that is bad?
sdc.clar,
I'll throw the question back at you. What is it about her record is good? Name me one thing she as done, other than working hard to stay away from bill.
She always had problems with her head.... If not, Bill would had never cheated on her
hahahahaha
lol at idiots that believe this bs
Her chain smoking those Camels are getting to her brain or whats left of it from her younger days.
A lot more intelligent that you could ever be.... You fascist baby killer !!
If I'd looked in a mirrow and seen that face I would of fainted too
Someone better keep her healthy... she's the next President in 4 more years.
I hope not its bad enough with this muslim mulatto
Ray, I hope you're not talking about the Bengazi Bucther that way.
Hillary doesn't have to answer to any of you dumbass righties. She is more powerful than your entire gang of corporate thugs put together and will be president from 2016-2024. Better start getting used to that idea right now dumdums. Oh, and Georgie Porgie Zimmerman is a murderous scumbag headed straight to the big house.
would that include corporate thugs like that non-tax paying one Jeffrey R. Immelt?
Yea right after you leroy sounds like a sissy name to me
leroy, why is zimmerman guilty of anything? I know, cause he shot a black man that was attacking him. The fact that he killed someone, doesn't matter to you. what matters is the man he shot was black and in your eyes he's guilty. So, you dumbass lefty am I right?
I think she saw herself in a mirror.
and after the concussion (and a haircut) Hillary suddenly realizes that she is really Tony Geary, who has had a illegitimate child with Rahm Emanuel, but is secretly married to Janet Reno, who is in hiding as the starting left tackle for the Chicago Bears.
I believe the scenario above more than the State Department's crud.
I can understand the positive, with 7 BILLION PLUS SPIRITUAL Beings with various personality types, I tink it was Rodney King that ask, CAN"T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG ? Well, can we just agree to disagree politely.
Have you ever just sat with that anger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????
Oh, by the way, think about her family when your in anger
mode.
how would you feel if u called her mom!!!
ashamed
If I had to call that bitch mom I would change my name and hit the road
come on the reason she travels is because of who she is married to. Can you imagine all the "stuff" bubba has been into with her gone? OMG
Do you believe she keeps her box in a chained set of pants ?? Shes what is called a lipstick lesbian in the military
Why is this such a big story? there has been a real tragedy that has happened and all you people think about is clinton. Hope she gets well as I hope all people that are sick get better, but there are more important things in this world to actually think about and read about. Oh forgot democrats think clinton is too big to fail. I hope she does decide to run but not in 2016, in 2013 back to Arkansas. Run Hillary Run..... Now on to more important life things than her and her sickness. God Bless the families that have suffered greatly this past week, prayers to them to heal.
Won't be testifying in front of congress because of this------how "convenient".
As we get older, crap seems to happen, I'm sorry that H clinton, fainted. However, I believe that it wan't the flu or her hectic schedule. I think bill called her and said he and a cigar were waiting for her at home.