Sanders had heart attack, say doctors as he leaves hospital
LAS VEGAS — Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders had a heart attack earlier this week, his campaign confirmed Friday as the Vermont senator was released from a Nevada hospital.
Sanders’ campaign released a statement from the 78-year-old’s Las Vegas doctors that said the senator was stable when he arrived Tuesday at Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center.
The doctors, Arturo Marchand Jr. and Arjun Gururaj, said Sanders quickly had two stents placed in a blocked artery in his heart and the rest of his arteries were normal.
Sanders was hospitalized Tuesday after experiencing chest discomfort during a campaign event.
A blocked artery can cause a heart attack, which means that an area of the heart is suffering and in danger of damage because it’s not getting enough blood or oxygen.
An artery-opening procedure like the one Sanders had, and placing stents, which are tiny scaffolds to keep the artery open, restores blood flow and helps prevent future problems.
The statements from Sanders and his doctors do not indicate whether his heart suffered damage.
The sooner blood flow is restored, the better the chance of survival without damage, which is why heart experts urge anyone thinking they might be having a heart attack to call 911.
The doctors said his stay was “uneventful with good expected progress. The campaign also released a statement from Sanders where he thanked the doctors, nurses and staff.
“After two and a half days in the hospital, I feel great, and after taking a short time off, I look forward to getting back to work,” he said.
Sanders is expected to return home to Vermont by Sunday and plans to participate in the Oct. 15 Democratic debate in Ohio, according to a Thursday statement from his wife, Jane Sanders.
Sanders’ medical crisis occurred amid some good news for his campaign — an announcement this week that he raised $25.3 million, more than any other candidate for the Democratic nomination, in the third quarter. Sanders has slipped in the polls, dropping behind former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, DMass.
The Washington Post contributed.