President Bill Clinton hospitalized

Former president Bill Clinton has been hospitalized.

"Today President Bill Clinton was admitted to the Columbia Campus of New York Presbyterian Hospital after feeling discomfort in his chest," adviser Doug Band said in a statement. "Following a visit to his cardiologist, he underwent a procedure to place two stents in one of his coronary arteries."

"President Clinton is in good spirits, and will continue to focus on the work of his Foundation and Haiti's relief and long-term recovery efforts," said Band.

A stent is small mesh tube that is used to treat narrowed or weakened arteries.

A hospital source said that Clinton called the head of cardiology at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital two days ago, saying that he was not feeling well. Clinton was originally scheduled to come in to the hospital Wednesday but postponed the appointment until Thursday.

A State Department official confirmed to NBC that former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "is now headed to New York City."

Aides to Clinton said Thursday she left the capital shortly after meeting President Barack Obama at the White House ahead of a planned trip to the Persian Gulf that was to begin on Friday. The aides said it was not yet clear if her travel to Qatar or Saudi Arabia would be affected by her husband's hospitalization.