Nov. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Vice President Dick Cheney went to a hospital for medical tests today because he was experiencing shortness of breath and has a bad cold, a White House spokesman said.

Spokesman Ken Lisaius said Cheney, 63, went to George Washington University Medical Center in Washington as a precaution because of his history of heart trouble. The vice president had four heart attacks between 1978 and 2000 and underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 1988.

``He experienced some shortness of breath Saturday morning and has had a bad cold which could be the cause of the shortness of breath, but we are taking every precaution as anyone with his history should do,'' Lisaius said. ``He is having it checked out.''

Cheney's cardiologist, Jonathan Reiner, will oversee the tests and further information will be provided later, Lisaius said. President George W. Bush was notified, Lisaius said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Holly Rosenkrantz in Washington Or hrosenkrantz@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 13, 2004 14:11 EST