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Kaohsiung mayor suffers `minor' stroke

Chung-ho Memorial Hospital and the Kaohsiung City Government confirmed yesterday that Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) had suffered a minor stroke.

Hospital vice president Lai Wen-te (賴文德) told a press conference that blood clots in a small blood vessel in Chen's brain had interrupted the blood flow to the left hemisphere, affecting movement on the right side of her body.

Huang Mao-hsiung (黃茂雄), the director of the hospital's rehabilitation department, said Chen was experiencing sensory integration deficiency, particularly on her lower right side, and trouble moving her right leg.

He said she will need up to three months of rehabilitation therapy.

Lai said Chen suffers from high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol and has a history of heart disease and ventricular hypertrophy (an increase in the size and mass of one, or both, chambers of the heart).

He said that Chen would be able to return to her mayoral duties once her blood pressure has stabilized, but she was in no condition to campaign for any election hopefuls at present.

He said the hospital had helped maintain Chen's blood pressure level between 170mmHg and 200mmHg, and the level was expected to drop to below 140mmHg after a 10-day observation period.

Chen was admitted to the hospital last Thursday afternoon after she complained she felt dizzy after getting up that morning.

Chen met with reporters in her ward yesterday, saying that doctors had told her she had made some improvement, but that she must walk slowly now. She said she disliked being hospitalized because she is a very energetic person.

Deputy Kaohsiung Mayor Chiu Tai-san (邱太三), who was among the city officials at yesterday's press conference, said he would fill in for Chen while she recovers, including at the interpellation sessions at the Kaohsiung City Council.
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