Health Highlights: Oct. 15, 2008

Oct. 16 -- Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay:

Cheney Treated for Abnormal Heart Beat

U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney was treated for an irregular heart beat Wednesday afternoon, which was diagnosed earlier in the day by his physician, the Associated Press reported.

Cheney, 67, underwent an outpatient procedure at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, which returned his heart to normal rhythm.

He went home after the procedure, which a spokesman described as an electric shock.

"During a visit with his doctors this morning, it was discovered that the vice president is experiencing a recurrence of atrial fibrillation, an abnormal rhythm involving the upper chambers of the heart," said his spokeswoman, Megan Mitchell.

Cheney was treated for the same problem in November 2007, the wire service said. An electric shock was administered to the vice president's heart to restore normal rhythm.

The vice president has had four heart attacks, the first when he was age 37. He's also had quadruple bypass surgery and two other procedures to clear clogged arteries. Seven years ago, he had a pacemaker implanted, and last year, the device was surgically replaced, the AP said.

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Nancy Reagan Breaks Pelvis in Fall

Former First Lady Nancy Reagan was recovering at a Los Angeles hospital Wednesday after breaking her pelvis in a fall at her Bel-Air home, the Associated Press reported.

Reagan, 87, fell last week after getting up in the middle of the night and twisting on her leg, AP reported. She decided to visit Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center because of lingering pain.

Although no surgery will be needed, it's unclear how long Reagan will be hospitalized, said her spokeswoman, Nancy Drake.

Reagan was hospitalized in February after a similar accident, although tests at the time to determine whether she had broken her hip proved negative, the AP said.

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Bottled Water No Cleaner Than Tap Water: Study