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Hillary Clinton Has Pneumonia, Her Doctor Says

by Celia Darrough

After an apparent overheating spell while attending a 9/11 memorial service in New York City on Sunday, a statement was released from Hillary Clinton's doctor that said she has pneumonia. Concerns over Clinton's health have been expanding over the past few weeks as her detractors have used it as a talking point to push for Donald Trump. Clinton had suffered from occasional coughing spells during her campaign, leading conspiracy theorists to claim she had a much more problematic illness, and her leaving the event early on Sunday only pushed those rumors further. However, with the diagnosis of pneumonia, perhaps the theorists and concern trolls can move on to a new point as Clinton recovers from this common ailment.

"Secretary Clinton has been experiencing a cough related to allergies," Dr. Lisa R. Bardack wrote. "On Friday, during follow up evaluation of her prolonged cough, she was diagnosed with pneumonia. She was put on antibiotics, and advised to rest and modify her schedule. While at this morning's event, she became overheated and dehydrated. I have just examined her and she is now re-hydrated and recovering nicely."

According to Politico, Bardack examined Clinton at her home in Chappaqua, about 30 miles north of New York City, after the memorial event.

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

"Pneumonia usually starts when you breathe the germs into your lungs," according to WebMD. The lung infection generally clears in two to three weeks, but can make those with the illness very sick during that time. Since pneumonia can be contracted basically anywhere — i.e. at school, work, or, you know, while campaigning and meeting thousands of different people each week — it's not a surprise that Clinton may have come into contact with the germs at some point during her constant campaign events.

First, the debate was over how hot it really was in New York and now it's moved on to whether Clinton should have shared her diagnosis when she received it on Friday. Whether those things really matter — especially when a presidential candidate is sick, but still showed up to pay her respects on a tragically important day in America — is up to you.