Bernie Sanders Had a Common Heart Procedure. So Why the Mystery?

[brooklynite]

New York Times

WASHINGTON — “None of us know when a medical emergency will affect us,” Senator Bernie Sanders wrote in a tweet from Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center on Wednesday, hours after the 78-year-old Democratic candidate for president experienced one.

Mr. Sanders’s emergency — the sudden onset of chest pain known as angina — is one that thousands of other Americans experience each year. Mr. Sanders’s discomfort occurred at a campaign event on Tuesday night. Because it signaled acute heart trouble, the senator went to the hospital where doctors implanted two stents in one of the coronary arteries that nourish the heart.

Doctors often release patients who undergo such procedures in a day or two. Mr. Sanders remains in the hospital, and his campaign has closely guarded pertinent details about his heart condition and treatment, raising questions about the extent of his health issues.

Among other things, Mr. Sanders has not disclosed whether blood and electrocardiogram tests showed he had a heart attack. The senator and his campaign have not allowed reporters to interview his doctors, though advisers have said that Mr. Sanders would be able to appear in the next Democratic debate on Oct. 15.

"Mr. Sanders remains in the hospital"

[qazplm135]

1. We can only speculate

If he's going to appear at the debate then it must not have been that bad.

Then again, it may be that it was bad enough that they don't want info getting out because they fear the impact on the campaign.

Or it could just be Sanders being Sanders and keeping the media in the dark to just keep the media in the dark.

The reality is any candidate over 70 with any kind of health scare is going to raise questions in voter's minds. A smart campaign would probably be open about information, particularly if it's of the "not that bad" variety.

[RKP5637]

2. I'm starting to suspect it might be more serious than we have so far been led to believe. n/t

[BigmanPigman]

15. NY Times said he had a heart attack.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/04/us/politics/bernie-sanders-hospital.html

[George II]

3. It's quite possible it turned out to not be such a common heart procedure?

[comradebillyboy]

14. The fact that the procedure is common doesn't lessen the seriousness

of the coronary event. It sure looks like Bernie had a heart attack. Heart attacks are serious especially at his age.

[George II]

16. It was just announced that it was a heart attack, not a simple "stent procedure".

[Mr.Bill]

4. What we do know is he had stents put in.

That is a common procedure. What we don't know is if he had some kind of cardiac event beforehand. It's up to him if he wants to give us the details or not. But if he's hiding anything, that won't be good for him.

The idea that his doctor said they were keeping him in the hospital for awhile because he is a high-profile person (or something to that effect) is very fishy and an insult to medical professionals everywhere. Every one is entitled to the same medical treatment regardless of who they are. Anyone in that profession, and I have several in my family, including my wife, will tell you that.

[CentralMass]

5. I trust what the campaign and his wife had to say on the matter.

[George II]

17. Well, their first story wasn't true. At 7:11 they announced it was a heart attack.

[cwydro]

19. Yes indeed.

Wondering why they weren’t up front with it from the beginning.

[flying_wahini]

6. Most people having stents put in only stay one night at the most. I suspect MI (heart attack)

[flying_wahini]

8. He's out and looks like shit.

[NurseJackie]

11. It all started with his dizzy spell and his fall in the hotel shower.

Well... when it comes to coronary disease, I'm sure it literally STARTED way way way before that. But, that's when everyone first became aware that "something is wrong".

I thought he looked a little gaunt and frail several months ago... but I was assured that it was either a mini-facelift (is there such a thing? maybe so, an eye-lift or brow-lift) OR that his new facial appearance was because of some strategic Botox injections. I guess most older politicians do it, so it's no big deal... it's just that "results may vary" (as they say).

In any case, people who have been paying attention knew all along that something wasn't quite right.

[Mr.Bill]

10. I was just discussing that with my wife, who is a retired RN.

She said a little longer stay in the hospital is not unusual for someone 78 years old. Especially if it's their first time getting a stent put in. Most stent recipients are much younger than that, 50s or 60s.

MSNBC just showed him leaving the hospital. He looked pretty good. I hope he's okay.

[Wellstone ruled]

13. The Hospital he went to has a policy

of doing longer stays for older Patients with the Stent Procedure. My neighbor was in for four days last fall and he is 79.

[Baclava]

7. A 78 y/o man has chest pain, is hospitalized for emergency repair of a blocked coronary artery!

People acting like this is some minor medical problem are the ones being foo!ish. This is about as serious as it gets.

Only the doctors and patient know the facts here, if there was damage to the heart muscle then it was a "heart attack" and tests would confirm it.

Why do people insist on rushiing this man back onto the street?

[NurseJackie]

9. "People acting like this is some minor medical problem are the ones being foo!ish."

People acting like this is some minor medical problem are the ones being foo!ish.

It's denial. One of the stages of grief, I believe.

[George II]

18. As of a little after 7 PM it WAS a heart attack, a myocardial infarction.

[Baclava]

20. I thought so, the moral of the story, if you have chest pain, don't wait, see a DR immediately

The life you save might be your own, he's lucky to be alive.

[George II]

21. And if you pass out in a hotel bathroom, don't go to a walk in clinic either.

[Baclava]

22. Chest pain? Shortness of breath, feeling weak? Call 911

Don't listen to the Internet's either, lol, just do it

[Blue_true]

23. Or be truthful about what happened to the Doctors.

Remember when we first heard about how he got the cut on his head? The story was he was getting out of the shower and tripped. I would guess what really happened was he was in the shower and passed out, hitting his head on something during the process. I am certainly not a Doctor, but if I heard that a person fainted in the shower, my reaction would be decidedly different than if I heard that they had an easy enough to have happen slip and fall. I am in good health and even I have fallen in the shower once and slipped more than once (thanks for bath mats and everyone should insure that they are properly placed and secured to the floor).

[Peace06]

12. Sanders

Recently, I had two stents placed in heart arteries. I spent one night in the hospital and went home the next day. So, I assume there were complications if he is still in the hospital. Anything, i guess is possible. I hope he has a speedy recovery and that there are no complications.