U.S. Sen. John Fetterman from Pennsylvania was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital after falling near his home Friday.Officials with Fetterman’s office said the 56-year-old senator was taking an early morning walk when he fell near his home in Braddock.Fetterman was taken to a hospital where it was determined he suffered a “ventricular fibrillation flare-up” which his spokesperson said led to him feeling lightheaded, falling to the ground and hitting his face.Fetterman is said to be doing well and is receiving routine observation at the hospital. What is ventricular fibrillation?According to the Mayo Clinic, ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a life‑threatening arrhythmia in which the heart’s lower chambers quiver rapidly and chaotically, preventing effective blood circulation. VF is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment and is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death.FULL STATEMENT FROM FETTERMAN’S SPOKESPERSON BELOW:“During an early morning walk, Senator Fetterman sustained a fall near his home in Braddock. Out of an abundance of caution, he was transported to a hospital in Pittsburgh. Upon evaluation, it was established he had a ventricular fibrillation flare-up that led to Senator Fetterman feeling light-headed, falling to the ground and hitting his face with minor injuries. Senator Fetterman had this to say: ‘If you thought my face looked bad before, wait until you see it now!’ He is doing well and receiving routine observation at the hospital. He has opted to stay so doctors can fine-tune his medication regimen. Senator Fetterman is grateful for the EMTs, doctors, and nurses who are providing his care.”Fetterman’s 2022 strokeFetterman suffered a serious stroke just days before the Democratic primary in May 2022. In his recently published book, “Unfettered,” the senator said he should have quit his campaign.Fetterman wrote that at the time he thought his stroke was the end of his shot at winning the Senate race and voters would not want someone who was on the mend, compared to the Republican nominee, Mehmet Oz. However, Fetterman went on to defeat Oz by more than 260,000 votes.His first term in the Senate is set to run until January 2028, and it’s unclear if Fetterman will run for reelection.Fetterman disclosed that he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and another type of abnormal heartbeat, atrial fibrillation, after he suffered the stroke on the 2022 campaign trail. Fetterman has said the stroke was caused by a blood clot triggered by atrial fibrillation, or a-fib, which affects the heart’s upper chambers. Fetterman underwent surgery after the stroke to implant a pacemaker with a defibrillator to manage the condition. The Associated Press contributed to this article.
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman from Pennsylvania was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital after falling near his home Friday.
Officials with Fetterman’s office said the 56-year-old senator was taking an early morning walk when he fell near his home in Braddock.
Fetterman was taken to a hospital where it was determined he suffered a “ventricular fibrillation flare-up” which his spokesperson said led to him feeling lightheaded, falling to the ground and hitting his face.
Fetterman is said to be doing well and is receiving routine observation at the hospital.
What is ventricular fibrillation?
According to the Mayo Clinic, ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a life‑threatening arrhythmia in which the heart’s lower chambers quiver rapidly and chaotically, preventing effective blood circulation. VF is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment and is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death.
FULL STATEMENT FROM FETTERMAN’S SPOKESPERSON BELOW:
“During an early morning walk, Senator Fetterman sustained a fall near his home in Braddock. Out of an abundance of caution, he was transported to a hospital in Pittsburgh. Upon evaluation, it was established he had a ventricular fibrillation flare-up that led to Senator Fetterman feeling light-headed, falling to the ground and hitting his face with minor injuries. Senator Fetterman had this to say: ‘If you thought my face looked bad before, wait until you see it now!’ He is doing well and receiving routine observation at the hospital. He has opted to stay so doctors can fine-tune his medication regimen. Senator Fetterman is grateful for the EMTs, doctors, and nurses who are providing his care.”
Fetterman’s 2022 stroke
Fetterman suffered a serious stroke just days before the Democratic primary in May 2022. In his recently published book, “Unfettered,” the senator said he should have quit his campaign.
Fetterman wrote that at the time he thought his stroke was the end of his shot at winning the Senate race and voters would not want someone who was on the mend, compared to the Republican nominee, Mehmet Oz. However, Fetterman went on to defeat Oz by more than 260,000 votes.
His first term in the Senate is set to run until January 2028, and it’s unclear if Fetterman will run for reelection.
Fetterman disclosed that he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and another type of abnormal heartbeat, atrial fibrillation, after he suffered the stroke on the 2022 campaign trail.
Fetterman has said the stroke was caused by a blood clot triggered by atrial fibrillation, or a-fib, which affects the heart’s upper chambers.
Fetterman underwent surgery after the stroke to implant a pacemaker with a defibrillator to manage the condition.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
