A medical professional has provided insight into what vape poisoning is and its symptoms, following Below Deck‘s Fraser Olender’s heart attack due to vaping.
Olender recently shared with his audience a serious health incident linked to his vaping habits, which nearly turned fatal.
The 33-year-old announced that he would cease using e-cigarettes after doctors confirmed they had caused his heart attack.
He described experiencing severe breathing difficulties before being admitted to the hospital, enduring intense pain for several days.
He explained: “To keep it simple – I had vape poisoning (an E-cigarette or Vaping-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI)), and I have never experienced fear or pain like it.
“Whatever was in my vape caused me to have a coronary artery vasospasm.
“Medically, that means the arteries supplying blood to my heart suddenly clamped down.”
This ‘vasospasm’ led to a heart attack, as it had ‘reduced blood flow enough to cause an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), better known as a heart attack.’
Dr. Suzanne Wylie, a general practitioner and medical advisor from IQdoctor, discussed vape poisoning and how it affects users.
She explained that the condition generally refers to ‘harmful effects caused by exposure to the chemicals found in e-cigarettes or vaping liquids’.
She added: “E-liquids can contain nicotine at varying strengths, as well as flavorings and other additives, and the potential for harm depends on both the concentration of these substances and the frequency or method of use.”
According to Dr. Wylie, vape poisoning can happen in several ways, such as inhaling large quantities quickly, ingesting or spilling concentrated e-liquid on the skin, or through rare device malfunctions.
She also pointed out that vape poisoning symptoms can differ in severity, including:
More severe symptoms could be life-threatening and require immediate medical care. She mentioned that these severe symptoms include:
In the most critical cases, particularly with high-strength nicotine ingestion, there is a risk of seizures, cardiac issues, or even fatality.
The doctor advised anyone experiencing alarming symptoms after vaping to seek immediate medical help.
She also recommended using only ‘regulated products, adhering strictly to manufacturer instructions, avoiding high-strength liquids unless medically directed, and safely storing e-liquids away from children and pets.’