ABC News reports that former President Bill Clinton has been rushed to a hospital this afternoon:

Former President Bill Clinton was rushed to a Manhattan hospital late this afternoon, sources tell ABC News.

Clinton, 63, was transported to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan for a condition related to his heart.

ABC News’ chief political correspondent George Stephanopoulos reported that sources said he was taken to the hospital “likely for a stent procedure.”

ABC says that Hillary did not appear to be in a rush to leave the office, which may mean that the issue may be more routine.  Anything with the heart would be an area of concern for Bill Clinton, as he just had a quadruple bypass less than five years ago.

I’ll update the post as the story develops.  Meanwhile, the family will of course be in our prayers.

Update: An update to ABC’s initial dispatch seems more reassuring:

An official told ABC News that Clinton’s ailment seems more like “discomfort…something wasn’t right” rather than a health “crisis.”

A friend of the former president’s said that he had been suffering from a cold and had been warn [sic] out from his recent trip to Haiti.

It’s also possible that he picked up something in Haiti that’s unrelated to his heart in the difficult environment in Haiti as well.

Update II: Good news from ABC in a further update at the same link:

“Today President Bill Clinton was admitted to the Columbia Campus of New York Presbyterian Hospital after feeling discomfort in his chest,” said Band. “Following a visit to his cardiologist, he underwent a procedure to place two stents in one of his coronary arteries.”

A stent is a wire mesh tube used to prop open an artery.

“President Clinton is in good spirits and will continue to focus on the work of his Foundation and Haiti’s relief and long-term recovery efforts.”

The First Mate had a stent installed in one of her coronary arteries as a precaution before her kidney transplant in 2004.  It’s fairly routine, and after lying flat for about 12 hours, the patient can usually resume normal activities.  Best wishes for former President Clinton for a speedy recovery.