Blair takes coffee break after heart scare (original) (raw)

Tony Blair admitted yesterday that he has cut back on coffee after his recent health scare in which he suffered heart palpitations.

The prime minister had to undergo electrocardiac treatment at a London hospital in October after apparently drinking too much strong continental coffee at a European Union summit, followed by a vigorous gym workout.

His wife Cherie is understood to have banned him from drinking coffee after the scare, and he is also believed to have cut down on his near-obsessive physical exercise.

Yesterday, Mr Blair, now 50, admitted on GMTV that he had made changes. "I was told I was taking too much coffee, but I love my cup of tea. I can't do without that," he said.

He denied that the experience had given him a scare, insisting: "I was told almost immediately what it was and that it was pretty normal that this happened and that there was a very simple procedure that they use for correcting it. There wasn't a great deal of uncertainty and I wasn't unable to carry on working, it's just that I knew something wasn't quite right. Anyway, it was all over in a day."

Last week, the prime minister underwent another health scare when doctors attended him twice after he complained of severe stomach pains.