Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders thanked his supporters for their well wishes and said he was "feeling good" Wednesday afternoon after news early in the day that he had undergone treatment for a blockage in one of his arteries.

Wednesday morning, the Sanders campaign announced the candidate was canceling upcoming appearances at campaign events after undergoing treatment for a blockage in one of his arteries.

There's no indication how long Sanders will take a break from the campaign.

"During a campaign event yesterday evening, Sen. Sanders experienced some chest discomfort. Following medical evaluation and testing he was found to have a blockage in one artery and two stents were successfully inserted," Jeff Weaver, senior advisor to the Sanders campaign, wrote in a statement emailed to news outlets on Wednesday.

Sanders, the independent senator for Vermont, is "conversing and in good spirits," according to the campaign statement from Weaver.

Sanders felt chest discomfort while at a presidential campaign event Tuesday evening, according to the statement.

Age an issue for candidates

Sanders, 78, is the oldest in a crowded field of Democratic presidential hopeful that includes two other candidates in their 70s, former Vice President Joe Biden, 76, and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, 70.

Age, especially for Sanders and Biden, repeatedly have come up as an issue even before the two formally announced their candidacy.

Bonnie Goldstein, an opinion contributor to USA Today, wrote in a May 21 op-ed, "I have nothing against old people — I'm one of them. But maybe it's time to add a maximum age limit to our minimum age requirement for our presidents."

Goldstein's question was echoed in a Sept. 19 New York Times opinion piece "Are Biden and Sanders Too Old to Be President?" by Spencer Bokat-Lindell.

Sanders, Biden and Warren have all pledged to release their medical records.

Sanders' health history

Sanders released his medical records during his run for president in 2016. His doctor determined the senator to be "in overall very good health," laying out examples including:

A normal complete blood count.

No history of cardiovascular disease.

A normal colonoscopy.

Being up-to-date on recommended vaccinations.

At the time of the records being released, the senator was taking levothyroxine — used to treat hypothyroidism — daily and intermittently using indomethacin, which can be used to treat joint pain and associated with gout. The senator's doctor listed conditions and surgeries in Sanders' medical history, including:

Lumbar strain.

Hypothyroidism.

"Laryngitis secondary to esophageal reflux."

Gout.

Diverticulitis.

Surgeries for repair on "left and right side inguinal hernias by laparoscopic technique" as well as "a right true vocal cord cyst excision."

Sanders polling behind Warren, Biden

The latest Real Clear Politics average of 2020 Democratic Presidential Nomination polls shows Sanders ranking third out of 19 candidates behind Biden and Warren.

Sanders is one of 12 candidates who qualified for the fourth Democratic presidential debate on Oct. 15 in Ohio.

Related:AOC dines in Burlington with Bernie Sanders

Campaign statement on Sanders' health

During a campaign event yesterday evening, Sen. Sanders experienced some chest discomfort. Following medical evaluation and testing he was found to have a blockage in one artery and two stents were successfully inserted. Sen. Sanders is conversing and in good spirits. He will be resting up over the next few days. We are canceling his events and appearances until further notice, and we will continue to provide appropriate updates.

Contact Maleeha Syed at mzsyed@freepressmedia.com or 802-495-6595. Follow her on Twitter @MaleehaSyed89.