Frazier Ohlander Opens Up About Health Scare

Frazier Ohlander, known from Below Deck, recently shared a concerning health incident involving a heart attack and lung damage linked to his vaping habits.

In a post on Friday, he detailed his experience, stating that he was admitted to the hospital a few weeks ago due to intense chest pains and trouble breathing. He described this serious situation in a Instagram carousel featuring a photo from the hospital.

Ohlander noted that the ordeal resulted in a week’s worth of visits with specialists at a London hospital to investigate the source of his pain.

“I’ve been dealing with a vaping addiction and something called e-cigarette-associated lung injury (EVALI), but I don’t think I’ve felt this level of fear and discomfort before,” he expressed.

EVALI is recognized as a serious respiratory illness that can be fatal, as noted by the American Lung Association.

He further explained that he was diagnosed with “coronary vasospasm,” which is when the arteries supplying blood to the heart suddenly constrict.

This incident led to a heart attack, described as an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). “It wasn’t due to a blockage but because my heart wasn’t getting enough oxygen during the seizure,” he elaborated.

Olender shared that while he feels “grateful” to be recovering now, he wanted to bring attention to his frightening experience, especially since he never anticipated it would happen to him.

Among the images he posted, one showed his boyfriend, Matt Rogers, host of the Las Culturistas podcast, providing support from his hospital bedside. Rogers offered a small smile, which seemed heartwarming in the moment.

Olender concluded with a picture of himself on a plane, giving a thumbs-up, signifying that he is back on the mend.

He strongly urged his followers to reconsider vaping, stating, “I could have died due to something so foolish. Please consider quitting too.” His goal is to make even one person rethink their vaping choices; he believes it’s worth sharing his story.

After his health scare, he promised he wouldn’t touch an e-cigarette again. He reflected on the intense 24 hours filled with pain, which even morphine couldn’t fully alleviate. The experience shifted his pain barely from a 10 to a 7, leaving a lasting impression.

“I could have died for something trivial. So, I urge you to quit, cold turkey. We still don’t understand enough about the dangers of these products, but I can tell you it’s a grim situation,” he concluded.