Bernie Sanders undergoes emergency heart surgery for blocked artery after complaining of chest pain, campaign put on hold
Senator Bernie Sanders, a frontrunner of the 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, has undergone surgery to treat a blocked artery, his campaign announced on Wednesday. The 78-year-old was hospitalized on Tuesday to receive two stents for the treatment procedure after he complained of chest pain.
The Vermont senator's senior adviser Jeff Weaver released a statement on Wednesday, saying that the presidential candidate "experienced some chest discomfort" during an event on Tuesday in Nevada, Las Vegas, and the testing found a "blockage in one artery." Weaver added that Sanders has now undergone the treatment procedure.
The senior advisor also added that Sanders' campaign has, for the moment, canceled all upcoming "events and appearances until further notice." The Vermont senator, earlier this week, had announced that he had raised more than $25 million for the 2020 polls.
"Sen. Sanders is conversing and in good spirits. He will be resting up over the next few days,” Weaver said. “We are canceling his events and appearances until further notice, and we will continue to provide appropriate updates," according to BBC.
Sanders is the oldest presidential candidate seeking to challenge President Donald Trump, 73, in the 2020 presidential election. The Vermont senator, an independent, is nearly three years older than former Vice President Joe Biden who is leading the 2020 Democratic race in most national and state primary polls despite critics raising some concerns about his mental well-being. According to the latest polls, the Vermont senator is third in the Democratic race behind Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Biden.
This is a developing story.