Olajuwon Gets Treated and Released

Hakeem Olajuwon, saying he is in good health and has a “very good heart,” left the hospital Monday in Houston after a visit from former President George Bush and plans to start working out in hopes of rejoining the Houston Rockets.

For the second time in less than two weeks, the star center was treated for an irregular heartbeat. The problem is not considered career-threatening, but his return to play was not set.

Olajuwon, 33, was given aspirin and the drug Lanoxin to deal with the irregularity. Doctors said aspirin would keep his blood from clotting and the prescription medication would keep his heart from fluttering.

“What it basically does is keep it from getting fast,” team physician James Muntz said.

When asked when he would be in the lineup again, Olajuwon said, “Hopefully, as soon as possible.”

Cardiologist Tony Pacifico, an arrhythmia specialist, had waited to see if the heart corrected itself before bringing it into sync with a defibrillator Monday morning. About three hours later, Olajuwon was released. Before departing, however, Olajuwon received a visit from Bush, who has a similar medical problem.