Cocaine is a dangerous drug that can have serious consequences for your health, including increasing blood pressure. Cocaine is a stimulant that speeds up your heart rate and the entire system. High blood pressure and heart palpitations are just two of the many adverse effects that cocaine can have on your body.
It is reported that 5.5 million Americans from the age of 12 and older might have used cocaine, including crack cocaine, in the past year. according to a 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Since cocaine is a stimulant drug, it causes people to be more alert while also providing euphoria and a “high-rush”. This increased stimulation to the body can cause short-term and long-term damage to the heart, increase blood pressure and may even result in a heart attack.
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that can have major effects on the cardiovascular system. Cocaine addiction causes an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and constriction of blood vessels. These effects can lead to chest pain & even arrhythmias.
In addition, cocaine use can cause sweating, palpitations, and anxiety. These symptoms can often lead individuals to seek treatment at a hospital or emergency room. While drug abuse is dangerous, it is important to remember that help is available.
Unfortunately, the answer is yes. cocaine use can lead to a variety of effects on the heart and blood vessels, all of which increase the risk of a heart attack. For example, cocaine can cause increased blood pressure, stiff arteries, and thickened heart muscle walls. These effects can ultimately lead to a heart attack, even in young, otherwise healthy individuals.
Therefore, if you or someone you know is using cocaine, it is important to be aware of the risks and take steps to protect your heart health. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to speak with your doctor.
What Causes Cocaine Users To Have High Blood Pressure? cocaine narrows your body’s capillaries and blood vessels, which puts a higher degree of stress, or pressure, on your vascular system. Also left ventricular hypertrophy is associated with chronic cocaine abuse.
As a result, your heart is forced to pump harder to move blood through your body and your blood pressure will increase. While the immediate effects of this may be an adrenaline rush and feelings of euphoria, the long-term effects can be much more dangerous.
In addition to high blood pressure, cocaine use can also lead to increased heart rate, anxiety, stroke, and even heart attack. Although uncommon, it can occur with crack cocaine due to high blood pressure and high levels of catecholamine chemicals like norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin.
According to a study published in JACC: Heart Failure, quitting cocaine use can reverse the damage the drug causes to the heart and improve heart function in abusers when combined with appropriate medical treatment, potentially preventing future drug-related cases of heart failure or other worse outcomes that occur from snorting, freebasing cocaine or smoking crack.
The study authors advise that users seeking to quit should consider enrolling in a comprehensive medical treatment program that includes intensive outpatient counseling and medication-assisted therapy. While enrolled in such a program, patients should be monitored closely for abstinence from cocaine and other drugs, as well as for indicators of improved cardiac function.
With early detection and aggressive treatment, many patients can achieve long-term sobriety and significantly improve their chances of avoiding future heart problems.
Cocaine can cause excess strain and high blood pressure causing the coronary arteries serving the heart to slowly become narrowed from plaque from a buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances. This slow process is called atherosclerosis. Cocaine use is linked to increased blood pressure putting users at a high risk of heart disease.
Short-term effects of cocaine may include:
More serious side effects and health problems, like:
Cocaine is known to be a highly addictive stimulant that produces feelings of intense happiness. Cocaine Dependence occurs because it releases dopamine, which also happens in response to pleasure centers within your brain’s anatomy/neurotransmitter system – but this time however does not last long due to other side effects such as anxiety or paranoia among others.
Cocaine can cause paranoia, which is due to the stimulant drug disrupting brain processing of information. It might also lead to people having delusions and hallucinations as well when using this kind or Cocaines supplements like nose candy in large doses!
The dangers of cocaine are many, including extreme sensitivity to touch and sound. It also produces anxiety in users as well as difficulty sleeping pattern looking lenses.
Cocaine can decrease appetite. This is because the drug increases metabolism and suppresses hunger. Regarding this problem, it is also possible that cocaine cause weight loss.
Cocaine can have many side effects, including increased metabolism and lower appetite. It’s also possible that the drug could cause weight loss in some people because of these two factors work together to contribute toward your overall well-being while using it!
Some of the Serious Problems Includes:
Cocaine abuse often experiences mood swings and impulsive behavior. This is because the drug interferes with your brain’s ability to process information, which can lead you into having an emotional response without thinking about it first or being able to make rational decisions for yourself when angry.
Cocaine can be very harmful to your health, especially if you have a history of heart problems. The increased pressure from this drug could cause an abnormal heartbeat that will lead too more serious complications like brain injury or stroke.
Cocaine has been known to cause convulsions and seizures. The drug interferes with the brain’s ability to process information, which could be one reason why it also increases blood pressure or heart rate too!
There are many risk factors to consider when using cocaine. The most common concern is that it can cause HIV or hepatitis, but this may also result in abscesses and cellulitis as well! It’s important for you know all of these possible side effects so they don’t go unnoticed by your doctor
There seems like a lot going on with injection-based drugs such as crack which has been associated lately due to its popularity among young adults seeking increased stimulation through regular cocaine use at parties called “crack nights.”
Cocaine can cause bowel decay if you swallow it. This is because the drug can damage the lining of the intestine. Regarding this problem, it is also possible that cocaine cause constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Cocaine can cause lung damage. This is because the drug can damage the lungs and cause inflammation. Regarding this problem, it is also possible that cocaine cause bronchospasm, pneumothorax, and pulmonary edema.
Nosebleeds, runny nose, sinus infections and nose issues are caused by cocaine if you snort it. Snorting cocaine also can cause ulcers in the lining of the nose. Cocaine can cause loss of smell, nosebleeds, runny nose, and trouble swallowing if you snort it. Regarding this problem, it is also possible that cocaine cause ulcers in the lining of the nose.
Cocaine can cause death. Cocaine-related deaths are often a result of cardiac arrest or seizures. This is because the drug interferes with the brain’s ability to process information. Cocaine can also cause an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Cocaine overdose is a medical emergency and can lead to death if not treated immediately.
Cocaine use amplifies sympathetic nervous activity which has a strong effect on the cardiovascular system. It substantially increases the force of the heart muscle as it contracts, and at the same time, it raises the heart rate and blood pressure. These factors all greatly increase the work of the heart, and therefore the demand of the heart for oxygen and nutrients.
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Heart. (2022, March 4). How high blood pressure can lead to a heart attack. www.heart.org. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/health-threats-from-high-blood-pressure/how-high-blood-pressure-can-lead-to-a-heart-attack
Richard N. Fogoros, M. D. (2021, February 2). What does cocaine do to the heart? Verywell Health. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://www.verywellhealth.com/cocaine-and-the-heart-1745713
Liyen Cartelle, A., Nguyen, A., Desai, P. M., Kotwal, V., Makhija, J., Yu, J., & Yap, J. E. (2021). Safety of upper endoscopy in patients with active cocaine use. World Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 13(10), 510–517.
Ryan, S. A. (2019). Cocaine use in adolescents and young adults. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 66(6), 1135–1147.
Zhu, W., Wang, H., Wei, J., Sartor, G. C., Bao, M. M., Pierce, C. T., Wahlestedt, C. R., Dykxhoorn, D. M., & Dong, C. (2018). Cocaine exposure increases blood pressure and aortic stiffness via the mir-30c-5p–malic enzyme 1–reactive oxygen species pathway. Hypertension, 71(4), 752–760.
Kévin, M., Dufayet, L., Nicolas, S., Charlotte, G., & Dion, E. (2021). Aortic Dissection in a body packer: Did cocaine play a part? Forensic Science International, 327, 110963.
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Magnified Health Systems aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.
Dr. Bickley graduated from U.C. Irvine with honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Golden Key International Honor Society, Cum Laude. He has been featured on national radio and print media. He is also a frequent lecturer at National Conferences. He holds an A.S. degree in Drug & Alcohol Studies, and two B.A. degrees in Criminology & Psychology, and masters and doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. He is a licensed California Drug & Alcohol Counselor Level II, a licensed Clinical Supervisor and is certified in treating Eating Disorders.
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