Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders suffered a heart attack while on the campaign trail, his team have said.

The 78-year-old Vermont senator was at an event in Nevada on Tuesday when he experienced chest discomfort and was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a heart attack.

Doctors at Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center inserted two stents to open up a blocked artery in Mr Sanders’ heart.

A blocked artery can cause a heart attack, which just means that an area of the heart is suffering and in danger of damage because it is not getting enough blood or oxygen.

An artery-opening procedure like the one Mr Sanders had, and placing stents, which are tiny scaffolds to keep the artery open, restores blood flow and helps prevent future problems.

Statements from Mr Sanders’ campaign team and his doctors did not indicate whether his heart suffered any permanent damage, or the extent of any.

The doctors said the rest of his stay before being discharged on Friday was “uneventful with good expected progress”.

After he left hospital, Mr Sanders posted a video on Twitter showing him standing at a Las Vegas park with his wife.

“I just got out of the hospital a few hours ago and I’m feeling so much better,” Sanders said. “See you soon on the campaign trail.”

He was expected to return to Vermont.

This marks the second time in two months that health problems have forced Mr Sanders to cancel campaign events.

In September, he backed out of some appearances in South Carolina because he lost his voice. His campaign team said at the time that Mr Sanders felt fine.

As the oldest candidate in the Democratic 2020 field, Mr Sanders has sometimes jokingly referenced his age on the campaign trail. Current president Donald Trump is 73.

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