The star of the television show “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” Duane Chapman, has been diagnosed with a life-threatening condition two weeks after he was treated for chest pains.
Chapman revealed his diagnosis on "The Dr. Oz Show" in an episode set to air Monday, according to People magazine, which obtained a clip of the show.
Now starring in “Dog’s Most Wanted,” Chapman, 66, disclosed he has a pulmonary embolism, a blockage of one of the pulmonary arteries usually caused by blood clots.
The Mayo Clinic says it can be a life-threatening condition, but that prompt treatment greatly reduces the risks.
In the clip, Oz visited Chapman at his Colorado home and told him he was “a ticking time bomb.”
“You’re not going to be here with the heart the way it is right now. Fear of death is normal. I’m surprised you don’t fear death when you’re chasing after convicts. But when you run away from doctors, that means you have to do your own doctoring,” Oz said.
Chapman had at first avoided getting the condition treated.
"(Duane) was fearful," Oz said, according to People. "Beth had been his north star. She was the one that would go with him and keep him balanced so he could deal with these things. Losing her took away his biggest support."
Duane Chapman’s wife, Beth Chapman, died in June at the age of 51 after a two-year battle with throat cancer.
He is now recovering from his health scare, People reported, taking blood thinners, eating healthy and trying to quit smoking.
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