Eric Sundwall

From the Associated Press:

Scan solves Rep. Sweeney's health riddle

March 13, 2006, 5:20 PM EST

WASHINGTON -- "Doctors have determined that inflamed blood vessels in the brain of Rep. John Sweeney caused spikes in blood pressure and intense headaches that have put him in a hospital several times in recent weeks.

Sweeney, R-Clifton Park, underwent a brain angiogram Monday to try to find the root of the problem that began last month after a press conference at the Port of Albany.

Doctors now believe the problem is vasculitis, an inflammation of blood vessels in the brain. "
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Well, well, well we can all rest a little easier now that we know that Congressman Sweeney's condition was diagnosed by a brain angiogram. A cerebral angiogram (or arteriogram) is a diagnostic test that produces an image of the arteries in the brain and/or head. It can help physicians diagnose a number of problems with the blood vessels in the head and neck, including ruptured vessels or blockage in the artery, usually by fatty plaque. If a vessel is blocked, the patient may be at increased risk of stroke. Other conditions (such as a cerebral aneurysm) may also be revealed.

Is our good congressman really at an increased risk for a stroke?

I remember seeing him in Florida during the Bush/Gore election fracas. He looked wildly angry and, to this observer, more than a little confused.

The test he had done is often done for TIAs or Transient Ischemic Attacks. I watched my father suffer from these during the last years of his life. TIA sufferers are often smokers. The most important treatable factors linked to TIAs and stroke are high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, heart disease, carotid artery disease, diabetes, and heavy use of alcohol. At last report, Mr. Sweeney was still a smoker. He and I have never shared a glass of Scotch.

Mr. Sweeney should release his complete medical record to the media for independent scrutiny. After all, it was American tax dollars that may have saved his life through this test (let's hope he sees it as a wake up call and at least gives up the smoke...again, I watched my father continue to smoke, confused till the very end).

If he does not want to release his medical records (and why wouldn't he??) then I suggest the congressman reimburse the American people the price of his plush medial plan. Maybe a fired up Kirsten Gillibrand should have burst into his hospital room yelling, "Shut it down!" during his taxpayer funded brain scan.