Reid stays in Las Vegas following mini-stroke

Benjamin Grove

Monday, Aug. 22, 2005 | 11:05 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Instead of heading home to Searchlight, where he would be farther away from hospitals, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was expected to remain in Las Vegas for at least the next few days with family after having a mild form of stroke last week.

Reid, 65, was not hospitalized as a result of transient ischemic attack, or mini-stroke, that he suffered, his spokeswoman, Tessa Hafen said. Reid is feeling fine and has no impairment of speech, strength or mobility, Hafen said this morning. She refused to discuss details of his medical treatment, such as test results and medication.

When asked if Reid was remaining in Las Vegas to be near his doctors, Hafen said he was staying in Las Vegas to be with family.

Reid spent the weekend with family in Las Vegas, she said, though she wouldn't say with whom he is staying. Two of Reid's five grown children, sons Rory and Key, live in Las Vegas.

Hafen declined to say if doctors believe a specific cause, such as the stress of Reid's high-profile job, caused or contributed to the mini-stroke.

Congress is taking its traditional August recess. It's not clear if Reid will go back to Searchlight at any point during the break or remain in Las Vegas to rest before lawmakers return to Washington Sept. 6, Hafen said. Reid is expected to resume his full duties then, but it is not known yet if he would make any public appearances in the next two weeks, she said.

"Doctors said there wasn't a need for him to limit any of his physical activity," Hafen said.

Reid did not appear at two scheduled events Friday in Las Vegas. Reid aides on Friday afternoon said that Reid on Tuesday had felt lightheaded at his home in Searchlight and was urged by his wife, Landra, to visit a doctor.

Tests revealed Reid had suffered a form of mild stroke known as a transient ischemic attack. The condition occurs when blood flow to the brain is briefly interrupted, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Reid has not had such an episode previously, his aides said.

The National Stroke Association reports that one in three people who experience the condition later will suffer an actual stroke.

Searchlight Nugget Casino employee Sunny Randolph said Sunday that she had heard about the senator's transient ischemic attack.

"I guess he's doing OK," said the 26-year-old Searchlight resident.

"Everybody was kind of shocked," Randolph said of her coworkers at the casino when they heard the announcement Friday.

"I expect once he gets up and around, he'll come see us and have dinner," Randolph said. Reid often dines at the Nugget with friends and family, she said.

The Neurological Institute reports that the most treatable factors linked to transient ischemic attack and stroke are high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, heart disease, carotid artery disease, diabetes and heavy drinking.

But Reid leads a healthy lifestyle. He doesn't drink alcohol or smoke. He has run 12 marathons, but now walks regularly more often than jogging.

Reid waited several days to disclose the transient ischemic attack pending the results of more medical tests last week, Hafen said.

Reid, a former two-term member of the House, has been in the Senate since 1987. He took over as Minority Leader this year after Sen. Tom Dashcle, D-S.D., lost his re-election bid in November.

The Associated Press and Sun reporter Mary Manning contributed to this report.