WASHINGTON?President Bush’s fainting?blamed by the White House on a pretzel?should have no long term consequences for his health, doctors say.

The medical experts say his good physical condition may have contributed to the incident.

Bush’s physician, Dr. Richard Tubb, said the president began coughing while eating a pretzel on Sunday, stimulating a nerve that slowed his heart rate and caused him to lose consciousness briefly.

Often called the common faint, this type of event can affect medical students who see a lot of blood for the first time. It can also be caused by pain or fear or even straining to blow a trumpet.

Following his physical last August, Bush was pronounced in outstanding health. He exercises vigorously and regularly, and some experts say his type of faint may be more likely in people in good shape because their heart rates and blood pressure already are low.