Charlie Sheen was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital Thursday morning to be treated for "severe abdominal pains," according to his publicist Stan Rosenfield.
TMZ later reported that the "Two and a Half Men" star did not suffer from an overdose, but that the abdominal pains were caused by a hiatal hernia in his stomach.
"I have no firsthand knowledge of this," Rosenfield told TODAYshow.com. "He has had a history of having this type of hernia, and the person who made the 911 call said he had severe stomach pains and said it was from a hernia condition. Since she is not a doctor, I did not extend her medical knowledge to the media."
According to the Mayo Clinic's website, a hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach pushes upward into the diaphram. A large hernia of this type can cause food and acid to back up into the esophagus and lead to heartburn and chest pain, and may sometimes require surgery.
TMZ was the first to report the news of the actor's hospitalization, adding that Sheen was taken from his home on a stretcher at approximately 7 a.m., with a towel partially covering his face.
According to the celebrity gossip site, two women exited the house at the same time Sheen left for the hospital.
For a little background, from Reuters: Sheen is the highest paid TV actor in Hollywood on the most-watched comedy, "Two and A Half Men." But he has hit the headlines repeatedly in the past year for his personal life and for reports of hard drinking and drug taking. Executives at CBS said earlier this month they were highly concerned about Sheen, but said he behaved in a professional manner at work and that "Two and A Half Men" would continue.
We'll bring you more details as they become available.
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