BREAKING: Fraser Olender, the 33-year-old star of Bravo’s “Below Deck,” has issued an urgent warning after suffering a heart attack and lung injury linked to vaping. In a shocking Instagram post shared Friday, Olender revealed he was hospitalized with severe chest pains and breathing issues just weeks ago, a health crisis he now attributes to his vaping habit.
After spending a week in London hospitals under the care of specialists, doctors diagnosed Olender with E-cigarette or Vaping-Associated Lung Injury, commonly known as EVALI. The severity of his condition escalated, leading to a coronary artery vasospasm, wherein arteries supplying blood to the heart constrict suddenly, resulting in a life-threatening event.
“I have never experienced fear or pain like it,” Olender shared, describing the agony that two rounds of morphine failed to alleviate. He ultimately required the strongest legal pain medication available in the emergency room to cope with his condition. The spasm triggered an ST-elevation myocardial infarction, or STEMI heart attack, caused not by a blockage but by a significant reduction in oxygen flow to his heart.
The American Lung Association classifies EVALI as a potentially fatal respiratory illness, underscoring the seriousness of Olender’s situation. He explained, “That spasm reduced blood flow enough to cause a heart attack – not because of a blockage, but because my heart wasn’t getting enough oxygen during the spasm.”
Now recovering, Olender is determined to share his experience to prevent others from going through similar ordeals. “If this experience can help even one person rethink vaping, it’s worth telling,” he stated emphatically. “I could have died for the sake of something so ridiculously stupid, so please do yourselves a favor and give it up too – cold turkey.”
As vaping continues to rise among young adults, Olender’s story serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers associated with this habit. His plea for others to reconsider their choices may resonate widely, especially as health officials ramp up awareness about the risks of EVALI and other vaping-related health issues.
This urgent update highlights the critical need for public awareness surrounding vaping and its potentially severe health consequences. Authorities are encouraging anyone experiencing similar symptoms to seek immediate medical attention and to contemplate the long-term health impacts of vaping.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
