Drug Addiction and Your Heart

Your addiction isn’t just heartbreaking; it literally breaks your heart.

Drugs and alcohol, even prescription drugs, increase the risk of heart problems. Addiction is dangerous for your heart, and combined with the long-term effects of drug abuse on your skeletal, nervous and other organ systems, it can ruin your body and mind completely.

Addiction and Heart Damage

The heart is at risk for several dangerous effects of illegal drugs and stimulants, like cocaine, pose the highest risks. In fact, cocaine is sometimes called the perfect heart attack drug, because cocaine users are at an increased risk of a heart attack, increase in aortic, higher blood pressure, and greater thickness in the left ventricle wall of the heart.

Dangerous side effects of illegal drugs on the heart include:

• Abnormal heart rate
• Seizure
• Heart murmurs
• Collapsed veins
• Blood or heart valve infections
• Sepsis
• Heart attack

Considering what drug addiction does to your heart, it is clear that seeking treatment isn’t just about becoming healthy, it’s literally about saving your life. Addiction can damage your heart and every major organ in your body.

Drugs that cause Heart Damage

In addition to cocaine and other stimulants, several other drugs can cause cardiovascular damage, like heart problems or vein damage. IV drug users are even more vulnerable to heart damage since their veins and entire cardiovascular system are exposed to the risks of infection or foreign substance problems, every time they shoot up.

There are several drugs that have negative effects on the heart or cardiovascular system. These include –

• Cocaine
• Heroin and Opiates
• MDMA
• Marijuana
• Meth
• Ketamine
• Stimulants
• Steroids
• PCP
• DMT
• Peyote
• Tobacco

To fix damage to your heart, you need to start with getting professional help in overcoming your addiction and achieving sobriety.

Any pressing heart or cardiovascular conditions or symptoms must be immediately addressed by a cardiovascular doctor. Long-term sobriety and cultivating a drug-free, healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent heart damage. Getting sober is critical to treat any issues caused due to addiction. Good rehabs provide various treatment options, depending upon the severity and duration of your addiction and your needs, so that you can overcome addiction and build a healthy lifestyle.

If you suspect that you or a loved one is experiencing a heart attack, call 911 immediately or rush to an ER.

To learn more about overcoming addiction, call one of the most trusted medical detox and drug and alcohol treatment rehabs in San Diego, call Pacific Bay Recovery at 858-263-9700 Today. Pacific Bay Recovery offers both inpatient and intensive outpatient treatment in San Diego.

About This Author

Pacific Bay Recovery Joined: June 22nd, 2018