WASHINGTON, Nov 13: US Vice President Dick Cheney was taken to the hospital on Saturday for treatment after experiencing shortness of breath, US media reported, noting that his symptoms could be cold-related.

According to CNN television, Dick Cheney has been suffering from a cold in recent days and was taken to George Washington University Hospital for tests.

Mr Cheney, 64, underwent angioplasty in Nov 2000 after suffering his fourth heart attack since 1978.

He had a cardioverter defibrillator implanted in June 2001 after he was treated for cardiac troubles after entering office with Mr Bush in Jan 2001.

The device, implanted just beneath Mr Cheney's left collarbone, can administer electric shocks to slow a potentially dangerous racing heartbeat or speed up an excessively slow one. -AFP