Bernie Sanders admits he was 'dumb' for ignoring symptoms ahead of heart attack

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is turning his heart attack into a PSA.

The 2020 candidate was hospitalized last week with what his doctors later said was a heart attack, leading Sanders to suspend his campaign events and a forthcoming Iowa ad buy. Sanders hasn't said if he'll resume campaigning before the Oct. 15 primary debate, but he does have a universally agreeable message in the meantime.

Sanders gave a health update at his home on Tuesday, telling reporters he was on his way to meet with a new cardiologist. "I must confess, I was dumb," he said. Despite being "born" with "a lot of energy" and usually handling multiple rallies a day without a problem, "in the last month or two," Sanders said he'd been "more fatigued than I usually have been." "I should've listened to those symptoms," Sanders continued, and then advised listeners to do the same "when you're hurting, when you're fatigued, when you have pain in your chest."

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Sanders first tied his hospitalization to his campaign in a tweet last week expressing his thanks for "well wishes," "great doctors," and "good health care." "No one should fear going bankrupt" if they experience a medical emergency, he continued, and added in a call for "Medicare for All!"