DETROIT, April 6 (UPI) -- A hospital official said Detroit Mayor Dave Bing is being treated for blood clots in his lungs and should be discharged within a few days.
Bing, 68, was re-admitted to Henry Ford Hospital Wednesday because he was "experiencing some discomfort," his office said. Doctors diagnosed him with a pulmonary embolism, The Detroit Free Press reported.
Bing had surgery March 24 to treat a puncture in his colon and had to stay in the hospital for nine days.
Dr. Robert Hyzy, director of the critical care medicine unit at the University of Michigan, said pulmonary embolisms can occur when blood clots travel to the lungs from other parts of the body. The problem can happen after too much sitting -- for instance during a long plane ride -- but not typically because of sitting during a long meeting as the mayor did just before he felt ill, the newspaper said.
"It's less likely with attending meetings," because people can get up and stretch, Hyzy said.
Dr. John Popovich, pulmonologist and president of the hospital, said Bing was expected to respond well to blood thinners.
"The mayor is alert, in good spirits and expected to make a full recovery with discharge anticipated in a few days," Popovich's statement said.
