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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:
Could not have happened to a more deserving individual! @ungar, "what the H has she done?
She will defeat any republitard in 2016. Haha hehe hoho back to their trailers you all go
When she runs and wins,in 2016, the rest of the ea bagger a$$holes will be gone shortly after.
Dear Hillary: Just know 1:00 pm Panama time I knew of the problems of your faint. I do admire you and all my family and try no to effort so much on the last month of Goverment. I know the originare stomag problem but we all love you an want you recover soon. Say Hi to President Clinton and your daughter. Humberto from Panama.
While I don't agree with her on much politically, I hope she recovers and has a nice holiday with the family.
The stress of her job must be brutal. Get well, Mrs. Clinton.
If her current job is so "stressful"; she certainly does not qualify for President!! Can just imagine her fainting with her finger on the little red button. BOOM!! Bon Chance Jax.
Oh trust me, I'd never vote for her, but I don't wish her any ill-will, either.
Hillary's been a Dizzy _itch for years. Reality is just catching up with her. If she only hit her head, there's No chance of injury there. Better at home than out, where she fills the world with herand Hussein's LIES. Go Away and Stay Away.
Remember when the Clinton's trashed the White House before they left. Everyone seems to forget that.
George...
That rumor was proven false over and over.
They stole everything that wasn't nailed down. The lefties will continue to lick their butts no matter what.
Remember the Clintons who left this country in the black. Low unemployment, budget surplus. I am sure the trashing lies were another fabrication of the Rublican party. The only way they can win is when they lie to their base and they believe them. Wait their base is the haves and the have mores. And then the red states that pay little in taxes and get the most entitlements. Ergo the undereducated , poor.
Bobit...
Snopes said it was false....I believe them over you, anytime
Snopes is owned by Soros, so it's as worthless as most left wing outlets
President Bush also said it was a lie. Another left winger?
Well last week a tummy ache and then this week passing out.....Hmmmm Ya think ? naaa she's to old.....
She looks terrible bags under the eyes. She will be too old in 2016 to run.
Right and Mccain was a good looking spring chicken. NOT
If you remember, McCain didn't get elected.
Look if you got up every morning and looked into the mirror with that face you most likely would faint too! Bill got it correct about "I did not have sex with that women" only with the wrong women.
I wonder where Bill gets his BJ's now?
George...
From you,
From your MOMMA
Mrs. Clinton is a 'driven' achiever. As Secretary of State, First Lady, or as United States Senator, she is the sort of person who 'leaves it on the floor' (basketball term, meaning that she goes 'all out'). She does need to take better care of herself.
Still, it is nice to see someone in public office who gives it her very best. This country needs more folks like her.
Are you people f*ing stupid? She fainted in her house! That could be a serious health problem. And here you are saying it's a Democratic conspiracy? My word, is nothing real anymore? You wouldn't be saying this if a Republican fainted. For one moment can you forget your obsessive party bias and feel sorry for someone? Or at least not be disrespectful and make something out of it that it is not? As an independent, I find it disturbing that party bias would cause people to be so delusional and heartless at the same time! You don't have to like her, but my word... Not everything is a god dam Democratic Conspiracy!
Get well soon Hillary,You have some testifying to do.
A stomach virus may cause weight loss and a concussion may cause convenient memory loss.
While I am not a fan of the Clintons, I do admire her for the work she has done. Maybe it's time to retire and rest your body. It's no fun to run all over the world. I think she has aged in the last few years.
She is retiring.
How quickly you're willing to give up your rights! You sound like a brain washed child of today. I suppose I'm blessed that I have good guns. I've had the same guns for over 10 yrs now and they have NEVER jumped up and shot anyone. You don't understand that the problem is not the gun but the person holding it. If we take away and ban all the guns,would you be willing to do the same for the police? If we don't have any, why they need them? Feeling safe now?
If you want to blame someone for Benghazi, blame Congress, the very people who turned it into a witch hunt. They are the ones who refused the state department's request for more money to protect our embassies.
Has the drive by media blamed , Ryan Lanza yet? We don't need any more evidence than this to demonstrate she is too old and unfit for higher office right now! Let alone 4 years from now. Best this came out early.
Bobit...
You are in for a rude awakening in 2016!
Drinking that Obama Kool Aid will make you sick.
So does the sour-grapes kool-aid the Repubs have been guzzling since the election. Makes you much sicker
Maybe Hilliary has lying-itis like Susan Rice.
Fly her over to israel and let her zionist handlers take care of her. Those are her masters that she serves.
She fainted, really after all the lies,mistruths,spun stories and flat deflections now the old war horse faints and right in time for the holidays and so very close to her hearings....hmmmm !
Guess that partying down south really takes it outta you when you reach that age!
Well rest up cause the 2016 race starts in a few months sugar!
Now excuse me but I have to use the Obama debt solution and go spend money I don't have so my bills will go down.....he's so wise on these matters!
I hope she didnt hurt the table or whatever she landed on.. She should be ENTITLED to some time off. Entitlement nation...
Being the SOS is a tough job. The endless travel would begin to wear people down. Hopefully, she will recover fully.
Hey Gaiking, these are the same people who wish for Democratic failure at the sake of our country. Just take your ball and go home? We don't need you!:(
Even a briiliant, dedicated, and patriotic individual can get bested by an illness. For her service we are grateful. Get well soon, Madame Secretary, we need you.
Two things are in effect: (1) the virus, and (2) Secretary Clinton's age and health history. The virus is an absolute BEAR - I had it last month as did many of my friends. It hangs on for 3-4 weeks and saps all of your energy. Not much to do but take OTC meds while it runs its course. Secretary Clinton has been a remarkably healthy person her entire life. When people who are normally in such good health encounter a lack of health, they normally go into denial, thinking they can "plow through it" or shake it off. I imagine she was overdoing it which lead to her fainting. Madam Secretary: All good Americans wish you well in your speedy recovery.
Hilary 2016!! The schedule she keeps is not human...few people could do it....She is doing an amazing job, better than most men could ever do...Madeline Albright too, great woman...We need more women in power. Men are tearing this country apart with their killing, rape, abuse and greed. FACT.
Hillary, hope you're feeling better! And to all of your detractors~the American people are becoming a bunch of spoiled, arrogant and childish brats without any sense of comportment or maturity. That's what Rome looked like at the end! Think about it!