Overview
- The Below Deck star disclosed the episode on Instagram on Dec. 5, saying he was rushed to the hospital with chest pain and breathing difficulty and then spent a week seeing specialists in London, with photos also showing treatment in Las Vegas.
- Olender says “whatever was in” his vape precipitated a coronary artery vasospasm, a sudden constriction of heart arteries identified by his medical team.
- He explains the spasm cut cardiac oxygen supply and resulted in an ST‑elevation myocardial infarction without a cholesterol blockage.
- He describes 24 hours of severe pain despite multiple rounds of analgesics and says he has not vaped for nearly three weeks and does not intend to resume.
- Health authorities recognize EVALI and caution that no tobacco products, including e‑cigarettes, are safe, as scientists continue to study short‑ and long‑term risks.