How Different Drugs Affect the Heart

The heart is well named.  Why?  Because it is the heart of our entire body.  Without it, we can't live.  So why would someone purposely try to damage his or her heart?  Yes, purposely.  Drug use leads to heart damage.

Have you heard of a beer belly?  It happens because alcohol raises fat levels in the body and that puts stress on the heart.  You might think drinking alcohol is “cool” but if you pride yourself on keeping in shape, then you should steer clear of drinking.

Cocaine kills.  It is that simple.  The use of cocaine inflames the heart muscle as well as the inner lining of the heart.  It can and does often cause blood clots which go straight to the heart.  The ones killed most often by cocaine use are those who are new users and older people.  New users give the body a shock when it takes in cocaine and this can be life threatening right then and there.  Older people develop heart problems and cocaine can bring a greater likelihood of death in these users.

Ecstasy is a party drugs but for the person who takes it, there's seldom a party when the heart rate increases.  Herbal ecstasy, also known as ephedrine, not only increases the heart rate but causes heart attacks, seizures and strokes. These often lead to death depending on how much damage is done to the heart during that instance.

Crystal meth and methamphetamine can literally poison the heart and cause strokes.  As with many other drugs, it goes straight to the blood stream and the heart is one of the organs almost always hit in some way by these drugs.

Heroin can cause respiratory distress in the body and lead the heart to believe through “signals” that there is no oxygen in the system, leading to a heart attack that can lead to death.  Do you see the pattern here?  Just like with the brain, the heart can be a victim of mixed messages.  Drug addiction is all about the different organs being dependent on substances and being confused or coerced by the signals the drugs give out.

People who use marijuana think it is a harmless relaxant.  The use of marijuana, however, can lead to many health problems and heart attacks are four times more likely to happen in someone who smokes marijuana.  Why?  Because blood pressure drops at the same time that the heart rate increases and combined, this can be a lethal situation.

The bottom line is any time you use any drug, you are leaving yourself susceptible to heart damage, blood pressure problems and at risk for a heart-related fatality.  Please reconsider any thought of taking illicit drugs.  Please limit your alcohol intake or refrain altogether.  Your heart will deeply appreciate it and in the end, you will, too.


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