Clinton’s pneumonia puts health in spotlight

Hillary Clinton was suffering from pneumonia when she quickly departed a Sept. 11 memorial ceremony in New York City on Sunday, according to her doctor, an episode that may intensify calls for a fuller release of both candidates’ medical records.

Clinton attended the ceremony for an hour and 30 minutes before “she felt so overheated” she departed for her daughter’s apartment, spokesman Nick Merrill said in a statement. The candidate later exited the apartment, saying, “I’m feeling great” before going home to Chappaqua, N. Y.

Once she returned home, Clinton was examined by her physician, Lisa Bardack, who issued a statement saying the Democratic nominee has been experiencing a cough related to allergies. Friday, she was diagnosed with pneumonia and is on antibiotics and advised to rest and modify her schedule, Bardack said.

“While at this morning’s event, she became overheated and dehydrated. I have just examined her, and she is now rehydrated and recovering nicely,” Bardack said in the statement.

The Clinton campaign, which has been fighting Internet rumors about her health after a coughing spell, which she laughed off by saying, “Every time I think about Trump, I get allergic.”

In a speech Aug. 15, her Republican challenger, Donald Trump, said Clinton “lacks the mental and physical stamina to take on ISIS ( the Islamic State) and all of the many adversaries we face.” In a column in USA TODAY, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani said there are unanswered questions about Clinton’s health, although he said, “I hope Secretary Clinton is perfectly healthy.”