Yes, You Can Have a Heart Attack at 33 Due to Vaping-Associated Lung Injury

By: Krysten Brenlla

Fraser Olender, who stars on Bravo’s “Below Deck,” recently shared that he suffered a serious lung injury, which caused a heart attack at just 33 years old.

The cause? Vaping – and he’s urging others to quit immediately. He was officially diagnosed with e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury, also known as EVALI.

What’s EVALI?

EVALI is a serious inflammatory lung condition that’s caused by certain chemicals in vaping products or e-cigarettes. Diagnosis is made after ruling out other diseases with similar symptoms, like pneumonia, flu, or COVID-19, and after a CT scan that occurs within 90 days of e-cigarette use.

Symptoms for EVALI often start like the flu – fever, chills, or fatigue. It can quickly spiral and progress into respiratory issues, like cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Symptoms can also include a rapid heart rate and abdominal pain or gastrointestinal problems, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or weight loss.

For Olender, his EVALI condition caused a coronary artery vasospasm, which is where arteries that supply blood to the heart tighten or spasm. The spasm then triggered an ST-elevation myocardial infarction, or a STEMI heart attack.

STEMI heart attacks are severe and can be caused by a complete blockage of a coronary artery, which can stop the blood flow to the heart muscle. It can also occur when the heart doesn’t get enough oxygen – a common EVALI symptom.

How does EVALI cause heart attacks?

EVALI can trigger heart attacks because the harmful chemicals in vapes or e-cigarettes, like vitamin E, nicotine, or heavy metals, can cause immediate swelling and stress, such as increased heart rates, spikes in blood pressure, and blood clotting issues – even in young, healthy users.

How’s EVALI treated?

Since EVALI shares similar symptoms as lung infections, patients may first be treated with antibiotics or antivirals.

However, the treatments may also include:

• Corticosteroids, which are steroids that can help reduce inflammation in the lungs. Patients might also be prescribed an inhaler or nebulizer to breathe the medication directly into the lungs.
• Oxygen therapy
• Mechanical ventilation, or a machine that helps patients breathe when they can’t breathe on their own.

What to expect after being diagnosed with EVALI?

Treatments for EVALI are effective, but some people may develop symptoms again, which may require a visit to a lung specialist for additional treatment options.

If you vape frequently, or experience any EVALI-like symptoms, it might be time to visit your doctor. To schedule an appointment with a lung specialist or primary care doctor at Jackson Health System, visit https://medicalgroup.jacksonhealth.org/.