Nearly three months after Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) suffered a heart attack on the presidential campaign trail, his doctors say he has recovered well and is in good health.
“At this point, I see no reason he cannot continue campaigning without limitation and, should he be elected, I am confident he has the mental and physical stamina to fully undertake the rigors of the Presidency,” wrote University of Vermont Medical Center cardiologist Martin LeWinter, who has treated the candidate.
Sanders’ campaign released letters from LeWinter and two other doctors on Monday after promising for months to provide comprehensive medical information about the 78-year-old senator. The campaign was criticized for releasing limited information after he was hospitalized in Las Vegas on October 1 and for failing to disclose that he had suffered a heart attack for days.
LeWinter wrote that Sanders had made “an uneventful recovery” from his heart attack and that his heart function is “stable and well-preserved” and his blood pressure and heart rate is above average. “While he did suffer modest heart muscle damage, he has been doing very well since,” LeWinter wrote.
In a separate letter, two other UVM Medical Center physicians wrote that Sanders had undergone cardiopulmonary exercise tolerance testing earlier this month at the Burlington hospital. They found that the senator was able to exercise at a level 50 percent higher than the average male of his age with a similar diagnosis — and at the same level as those with no such diagnosis.
“Mr. Sanders is more than fit enough to pursue vigorous activities and an occupation that requires stamina and an ability to handle a great deal of stress,” wrote UVM Medical Center director of cardiac rehabilitation Philip Ades, who helped administer the test.
The campaign also provided a letter from the U.S. Congress’ Office of the Attending Physician, which has treated Sanders for 29 years. In it, attending physician Brian Monahan wrote that he had conducted a physical examination of the senator earlier this month and found him to be in “normal” condition.
“You are in good health currently and you have been engaging vigorously in the rigors of your campaign, travel, and other scheduled activities without any limitation,” he wrote.
Read the full letters below:
Related Stories
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!
That’s it, he’s finished.
Sanders Has Mental And Physical Stamina For Presidency.
Yeah, but can he be angry and outraged enough? Can he still scream and yell and shout and interrupt? Can he still hate on people who have more money than he does? These are important questions.
How about a little skepticism, Seven Days?
Did you ever consider seeking out some independent docs to opine on Bernie’s medical claims?
It is no coincidence that Bernie Sanders suddenly releases letters from doctors as he nears the first primary.
Sanders realizes there is a question in the public’s mind as to whether he is too old to be president.
He has figured out that voters are focusing on his recent heat attack – what you will remember he called a “heart event” until a UVM physician said, “no, folks, that was a heart attack.”
Seven Days, again, look at the timing of these medical endorsements…
Get some other heart docs to weigh in.
So there’s president Sanders in a heated discussion with Vladimir Putin, and president sanders has a flare up of the gout.
President Sanders? Not a good idea.
in the fall of last year Jimmy Carter commented that he did not think anyone near 80 could navigate the stresses and demands of being president. I think he has more credibility with knowing what is required than the doctors quoted here.
Ex-Police Chief del Pozos recent TBI-caused cyberstalking, lying, and cover-up all cured and better now note from his doctors has apparently kick-started a lucrative new revenue stream for physician-certified clean bills of medical health for Vermont public officials.
Mr. Sanders level of fitness would be suggestive of favorable outcomes.
Dr. Phillip Ades, Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation at UVMMC
One is hard pressed to conjure up a more vaguely worded and qualified, passive voice medical opinion / disclaimer attesting to a presidential candidates likelihood of suddenly dropping dead on the campaign trail.
Did Dr. Ades consult the Magic 8 Ball prior to drafting his would be suggestive of favorable outcomes statement?
It’s not his heart I’m worried about, it’s his mind and specifically the delusions he speaks of.
Hey look at that, according to FollowtheMoney.org Barbara and Martin LeWinter donated $390 over the last year to the Democrat Party and no other. Not alot to a millionaire like Bernie, but still as their only contributions it indicates a definite bias.
as opposed to the morbidly obese Trump . . .
Nice to see the usual goose stepping MAGA hatters and Neo-liberal Hillary Hags posting their usual drivel.
Hey Bud (I’m not interested in using your weirdly specific nom de plume),
If the only thing you have in your quiver is name calling (ironically by someone nameless), maybe stay home. Those who know Bernie, say “No Bernie”.
*Neo-liberal Hillary Hag,* eh?
Let’s see, if egomaniacal, intolerant, angry, misogynistic, NRA*loving Bernie Sanders had a kid with power*hungry, fake*election*holding, neighboring*country*invading, internet*abusing Vlad Putin, the child would be a Bernie Bro.
Keepin’ it classy!
It’s not unreasonable to think a 79 year old male who leads a fairly healthy lifestyle wouldn’t be healthy. That’s the physical fitness side.
But I do believe that based upon Bernie’s grand ideas and red faced screaming delivery, one could plausibly question his mental fitness.
Besides, why does he do what he does? Yes, I know, he is passionate about his beliefs, regardless how unobtainable they are. The point is, he’s never going to be POTUS. There are several obvious reasons why this is totally the case.
As an aside, I agree with a previous commenter who wrote about timing. Yep, in the run up to Iowa, SC and NH, just watch press releases as they will continue to out do each other on Earth shaking pronouncements.
Ok I’ll ask the question everyone is thinking…
How much did he pay these Dr’s to write this so-called glorified report.?
I’m surprised they didn’t say “he has a heart like a 20 yr old.”
I almost spit out my coffee when I read “Mr. Sanders is more than fit enough to pursue vigorous activities and an occupation that requires stamina and an ability to handle a great deal of stress,” How can they say that, he’s never done anything vigorous or stressful in his life… Look how much he’s done for Vt ~0~ look how many times he’s been at roll call at the Senate maybe 3 times.. He spent more time running around plugging his book and now campaigning… He was asked if he was going to run for president when he was up for reelection for the senate, he said “I am only running for senator”. LIAR, he knew that he was going to run for pres.
Stop and think ..what has he done for Vt?? most of the time he’s running off around the country. He can’t even do the job as a Senator, he sure couldn’t do the job as president.
Yet he may be paid off again to leave the race like he was in 2016…
DONNA, you’re just upset because you’re orange turd did actually pay off his doctor, once for this and his father paid off his doctor to get him out of the Vietnam war by saying he had bone spurs! People who like trump aren’t thinking clearly..
@Gigrape52@gmail.com
As they say from the South “BLESS YOU”! !!!!
“Ok I’ll ask the question everyone is thinking…
How much did he pay these Dr’s to write this so-called glorified report.?”
Ok, I’ll ask the question that everyone except Ms. Boutin is thinking: how much did Daddy Trump pay Dr. Bone Spurs to keep Chicken Donny out of Vietnam?
And speaking of payments, I’ll add a question: how many other women has Donny paid off to keep quiet about sex besides just the ones we know about?