Manila - The husband of Philippine President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo left hospital on Tuesday, more than three weeks
after undergoing a delicate heart surgery.
A haggard Jose Miguel Arroyo, 60, waved to reporters and said
'thank you' several times as he was being led to a waiting van that
took him to the presidential palace.
The controversial first gentleman, who has been linked to various
government scandals, underwent a 10-hour operation to correct an
aneurysm in his heart.
Juliet Gopez-Cervantes, Arroyo's main doctor, said the first
gentleman would be undergoing cardiac rehabilitation and will have to
return to the hospital every other day.
She added that Arroyo has been told to keep to a low-fat,
low-cholesterol and sugar-restricted diet, and to 'manage his
stress.'
'Any form of stressful activities or sudden burst of emotions may
increase the blood pressure and then, can of course, make him at risk
again,' she said.
'Hopefully, he will be able to adjust to his new lifestyle,' she
added. 'He has to adhere to our prescribed diet and the rest of his
lifestyle should be in moderation.'
Cervantes said the first gentleman lost 10 pounds after the
surgery, but expressed hope he would be able to 'gain back his full
strength' in the coming weeks.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
USA
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