Cheney heart problem

US VICE-PRESIDENT Dick Cheney, who has a history of heart problems, experienced an irregular heartbeat yesterday and was to be evaluated in hospital.

The condition was detected when Mr Cheney was seen by doctors for a lingering cough from a cold.

“During examination he was incidentally found to have an irregular heartbeat, which on further testing was determined to be atrial fibrillation, an abnormal rhythm involving the upper chambers of the heart,” said spokeswoman Megan Mitchell.