Bernie Sanders says he was 'dumb' to ignore health warnings

'I should have listened to those symptoms'

Bernie Sanders has said he regrets ignoring his fatigue along the 2020 campaign trail in recent months before ultimately suffering a heart attack that forced him to suspend his campaign events while recovering in Vermont.

“I must confess that I was dumb,” the Democratic hopeful told Reuters.

“And yet I, in the last month or two, just was more fatigued than I usually have been. I should have listened to those symptoms.”

Shortly after visiting a cardiologist, Mr Sanders told reporters the health scare would change the “nature” of his campaign.

The suggestion likely meant the 78-year-old senator — who also said he was “trying to get back into” a habit of taking long walks — would begin scheduling fewer campaign stops nationwide in his bid to unseat Donald Trump in the White House.

Mr Sanders’ campaign said he suffered a myocardial infarction — another term for a heart attack — nearly a week ago and was forced to undergo surgery at a Las Vegas hospital.

Doctors placed two stents into his heart to relieve his chest pains and advised him to spend time recovering before heading back to the campaign trail.

Mr Sanders, who has consistently polled as one of the leading Democratic candidates in the 2020 primaries, said he would continue campaigning for the presidency despite the setback.

“I don’t think it helps or hurts,” Mr Sanders said.

He also said he was “feeling good” and “getting some work done” while recovering in his hometown of Burlington, Vermont.

The senator is reportedly seeing a new cardiologist while preparing to partake in the next round of Democratic debates on 15 October.