Doctors confirm Bernie Sanders had a heart attack on the campaign trail

It's been confirmed that Democrat Presidential contender Bernie Sanders was diagnosed as having a heart attack, when he was admitted to hospital this week

Senator Bernie Sanders will be back on the campaign trail soon. Source: AP

Campaign officials for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders have confirmed that he was having a heart attack when he went to a Las Vegas hospital on Tuesday night.

In a statement released Friday afternoon, the campaign said the Vermont senator was diagnosed with a myocardial infarction, otherwise known as a heart attack.

Senator Sanders left the Desert Springs Hospital Medical Centre on Friday and was expected to return to Vermont.

(The New York Times) Source: AP

His campaign said he was feeling great and looking forward to getting back to work.

A statement from Senator Sanders' doctors in Nevada was also released, saying the Senator was stable upon his arrival in the hospital and had two stents placed in a blocked artery.

"Sen. Sanders was diagnosed with a myocardial infarction," his doctors said in the statement, using the medical term for a heart attack.

"Two stents were placed in a blocked coronary artery in a timely fashion. All other arteries were normal.

"His hospital course was uneventful."

The doctors said the senator made "good expected progress" and all of his other arteries were normal.

The 78-year-old was taken to hospital after he experienced chest discomfort during a campaign event Tuesday.

Senator Sanders said he felt "great," according to a statement from his campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.

Senators Sanders speaks with the media on the campaign trail. Source: AAP

"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.

The left-wing senator from Vermont is expected to participate in the fourth Democratic debate scheduled for 15 October in Ohio.

He is the oldest candidate vying to take on President Donald Trump, 73, and is third in the Democratic nominee polls behind Joe Biden, 76, and Elizabeth Warren, 70.

Senator Sanders' health has generally been good and it has been Biden who has had to bat away questions about his stamina and mental sharpness. 

US President Donald Trump. Source: AAP

In March, he gashed his head on a shower door and had seven stitches, but quickly returned to the campaign trail.

Last month, he cancelled three events in South Carolina to rest his voice, which had become hoarse.

Senator Sanders, a self-described Democratic socialist, wants to tax the rich more and introduce universal health care.

He pushed Hillary Clinton to the wire for the nomination in 2016.

With wires...