'Below Deck' Star Exposes Absurd Reason Behind His Heart Attack

Fraser Olender, known from the reality series Below Deck, narrowly survived a recent heart attack and is now speaking out about the surprising trigger behind it.

Olender posted on Instagram, emphasizing the importance of sharing his experience despite the personal nature of the content. He revealed that he was rushed to the hospital weeks ago due to intense chest pain and breathing difficulties. He spent an entire week in London hospitals under specialist care to determine the cause and extent of the damage.

The star explained that his heart attack was linked to a vaping-related lung injury, medically referred to as EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury). The American Lung Association notes that EVALI was first identified in 2019 and can be life-threatening, with over half of patients requiring intensive care.

Olender clarified the medical details: the contents of his vape triggered a coronary artery vasospasm, causing his hearts arteries to constrict suddenly. This spasm limited blood flow, resulting in an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a type of heart attack not caused by a blockage, but by oxygen deprivation to the heart during the spasm.

Grateful for his recovery, Olender highlighted that his partner, Matt Rogers, supported him throughout the ordeal. He shared his story as a cautionary message to others considering vaping, pledging never to use a vape again. He described the excruciating pain he endured for 24 hours, which required the strongest legally available pain medication to ease.

I could have lost my life over something so absurd, Olender wrote, urging others to quit vaping immediately. He stressed that the dangers of vaping are not fully understood and described the experience as anything but glamorous.

Additionally, Olender noted a surprising benefit since quitting vaping: his skin has improved significantly, appearing brighter and clearer than ever. He jokingly suggested this might be the ultimate skincare solution.

Author: Ethan Caldwell