By Margaret Farley Steele, HealthDay Reporter

(HealthDay)

SATURDAY, Oct. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Senator Bernie Sanders left a Las Vegas hospital on Friday after being admitted with chest pains on Tuesday; his presidential campaign is now saying the 78-year-old suffered a heart attack.

Sanders experienced chest pain at a campaign event and received two stents to open a blocked artery. He has cancelled public events for the time being, The New York Times reported.

Sanders waved to onlookers and gave a fist pump as he left Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center and was taken away in a waiting vehicle. Later, after dropping off bags at his hotel, he was seen taking a walk in a nearby park with his wife, Jane.

"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," Sanders said in a statement.

His doctors in Las Vegas, Arturo Marchand and Arjun Gururaj, said the senator's "hospital course was uneventful with good expected progress," the Times added.

Although his campaign is not saying when he will resume a normal schedule, on Thursday it was announced that Sanders does plan to take part in the next Democratic debate, scheduled for Oct. 15 near Columbus, Ohio.

Dr. Steven Nissen, a cardiologist and chief academic officer at Cleveland Clinic's Heart & Vascular Institute, said that stenting should allow Sanders to resume normal activities.

"We don't know all the details, but this is a common, safe procedure, and with contemporary stents, it generally comes with a short recovery time," said Nissen, who wasn't involved in Sanders' care. "The purpose of modern medicine is to let people continue pursuing their passions, and for this procedure, patients can generally get back to that relatively quickly."

Dr. Satjit Bhusri, a cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said Sanders suffered the classic signs of heart attack and was promptly sent to emergency services.

"All heart attacks present differently. In women, for example, they typically present as a sudden shortness of breath. Mr. Sanders had the textbook symptoms of chest pain that was successfully treated," Bhusri noted.

"If not recognized and treated early, the outcome would have been more ominous," Bhusri added.

According to the American Heart Association, stents help keep coronary arteries open and reduce the chance of a heart attack. Doctors insert the stent -- a tiny mesh tube -- into the clogged artery with a balloon catheter. When they inflate the balloon, the stent expands and locks in place. This allows blood to flow more freely.

Did Sanders' hectic schedule contribute to his heart attack? One expert isn't sure, but said the politician's example should be a wake-up call to many Americans.

"Lack of sleep, exercise, and increased stress can certainly lead to acute coronary events," said Dr. Benjamin Hirsh, who directs preventive cardiology at Northwell Health Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y.

"Whether or not these factors contributed to Bernie Sanders' heart condition, we continue to learn vital lessons from this and other similar stories," he said. "Coronary disease is on the rise, regular medical evaluation is necessary, and prioritizing healthy living is essential to keep your heart safe."

More information

To learn more about stents, visit the American Heart Association.