Cocaine-induced Arrhythmia
Rosalie Checca
In addition, cocaine interferes with chemicals that the heart needs to beat correctly. These chemicals includecalcium, sodium and potassium. By causing problems with these chemicals, cocaine use can lead to an abnormal heart rhythm.
Blood pressure refers to the amount of force with which blood is pushed against your arteries as your heart pumps. A normal blood pressure reading is 120/80 or lower. However, blood pressure can spike dangerously high at times, including when a person uses cocaine.
Cocaine changes the heart rhythm by blocking the flow of sodium and potassium ions in the heart muscles. The heart has a specialized cell called pacemaker cells that maintain heart rhythm. They do this by passing a small electrical charge between cells. The charge tells the heart muscle cells when to beat.
Pacemaker cells pass their charges to each other by moving sodium and potassium ions into and out of their cell membranes. Cocaine blocks the flow of sodium cells through heart cell membranes. When sodium ions cannot pass through, the electrical charge cannot move from cell to cell. The heartbeat then becomes irregular.
Arrhythmias are most likely to happen within the first few hours of taking cocaine. Arrhythmias are difficult to predict and can be deadly. If you suspect you or a loved one is experiencing an arrhythmia after using cocaine, call 911. Some symptoms of arrhythmias include:
Arrhythmias are treated in a hospital or emergency department. The medical team will use medications to correct the abnormal heart rate. If the arrhythmia leads to cardiac arrest, CPR and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) techniques may be used. An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) might be used if the arrhythmias is a shockable rhythm. An AED sends a small electrical charge through the chest wall to stop arrhythmias and allow the heart to correct its own rhythm.
Studies have shown that cocaine use can cause a stroke. A stroke can happen instantly after someone uses cocaine or a few hours later. About 73% of people who have a stroke from cocaine use do not have any risk factors for stroke other than their drug use. Doctors are not sure what exactly causes the stroke to happen. However, doctors suspect that some of the impure chemicals that contaminate cocaine may play a role in strokes from cocaine. Cocaine use can cause two different kinds of stroke:
Most cardiac arrest events caused by cocaine are linked to a combination of heart problems that cocaine can cause. A person does not need to have all of these problems, or even most of them, to experience cardiac arrest from cocaine use. These heart problems include:
Cardiac arrest itself often has no symptoms. However, cocaine users whose hearts are harmed by cocaine use may complain of chest pain before going into cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest requires emergency medical treatment. If cardiac arrest is suspect, emergency medical services should be called immediately.
Unfortunately, people frequently do not survive experiencing cardiac arrest. If someone does survive cardiac arrest, they may have long-lasting health problems like brain damage from the lack of oxygen.
Cocaine can cause a myocardial infarction, more commonly known as a heart attack. This happens from several different mechanisms that come together in a perfect storm. First, cocaine is known to cause narrowing of the blood vessels and arteries. In addition, cocaine makes the heart beat harder and faster. Cocaine can also cause plaque buildup in blood vessels. Together, these effects starve the heart of needed oxygen, leading to a heart attack. Drinking alcohol can worsen matters substantially: drinking while using cocaine can increase the risk of a heart attack by a factor of 40.
The coronary arteries supply blood and oxygen to the heart and are crucial for keeping the heart-healthy. Cocaine can cause damage to these arteries in the form of coronary artery aneurysms, or bulging of the arteries. If the bulging artery ruptures, death can occur. One study found that nearly one-third of people who use cocaine have a coronary artery aneurysm.
Chronic cocaine use is linked to myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, and cardiomyopathy, an enlargement of the heart. These conditions can reduce cardiac output and may lead to heart failure, a potentially deadly condition.
Sudden cardiac death from cocaine is unfortunately common. Experts think this is linked to cocaine causing a rapid heartbeat and rhythm problems. Alcohol is a known risk factor for sudden cardiac death from cocaine: drinking alcohol can increase the risk of this condition by a factor of 25.
Fibrinolytic drugs, known colloquially as clot-busters, are sometimes used to break up clots in people suffering from a heart attack or stroke. However, cocaine increases the risk of complications if fibrinolytics are used. Specifically, cocaine increases the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage, a severe type of brain bleed, if a fibrinolytic drug is given.
When doctors are trying to keep a blood vessel open, they will often implant a stent. In general, a type of stent called a drug-eluting stent is preferred since there is less chance of a blockage forming. However, people on a drug-eluting stent need to be on a specific blood-thinning medication regimen. Some doctors fear that a person struggling with substance abuse may not be able to adequately adhere to this regimen, increasing the chance that the stent will fail. For this reason, doctors may instead implant a bare-metal stent, which has a higher risk of blockage compared to a drug-eluting stent. However, it may be safer to use in a person who struggles with cocaine.
If you or a loved one struggles with cocaine use, contact The Recovery Village today. The health risks of sustained cocaine use are too severe to ignore. Professional, evidence-based treatment is the best way to address cocaine addiction. You deserve a healthier future: call today.
The Recovery Village 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.
Medical Disclaimer: The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a 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 provider.
Beth lives in London and works as a freelance writer on a range of projects. Along with writing regular articles for Medical News Today, she writes for the Horniman Museum, an anthropology museum in South London. This involves recording minutes for conferences, blogging for their website, and documenting their process of curating art exhibitions. She loves theatre, yoga, and cycling in her spare time.
Zawn is a writer who covers medical, legal, and social justice topics. Her work has been published in dozens of publications and websites. She lives with her husband, daughter, six tortoises, a dog, and 500 orchids. In her spare time, she runs a local maternal health nonprofit.
When a heart attack occurs due to cocaine, people may experience symptoms such as chest tightness or discomfort and shortness of breath. This is because cocaine makes the cardiovascular system work much harder while reducing blood flow to the heart by constricting the capillaries, which are blood vessels throughout the body.
This article will explain how cocaine may cause a heart attack, its symptoms, and how doctors treat it. It will also explore the short-term and long-term effects of the drug on the body and cardiovascular system.
People can have a heart attack after taking cocaine. This drug is a potent stimulant that can significantly affect how the cardiovascular system works. Taking cocaine can cause elevated blood pressure and arrhythmia. All these factors can contribute to a heart attack.
Cocaine makes the heart work harder, increasing its oxygen and nutrient needs. At the same time, the drug restricts the capillaries, reducing blood flow and increasing blood pressure. This makes it more difficult for the heart to receive oxygen and nutrients, damaging the cardiovascular system.
If a heart attack occurs after taking cocaine, a person may experience discomfort or tightness in the center or left side of their chest. This typically lasts for several minutes or may go away and return several times. This discomfort may result in a sensation of fullness, squeezing, or uncomfortable pressure and pain.
The effects of taking cocaine are almost immediate after taking a dose. It can last from a few minutes to an hour, depending on how a person takes it. After taking cocaine, people may experience psychological effects, including:
In general, a cocaine heart attack requires similar care to a typical heart attack. However, doctors cannot administer beta-blockers, a fundamental part of the treatment for managing typical heart attacks, for treating cocaine-induced episodes.
Several organizations offer support to people with drug addiction, including cocaine. If a person has an addiction, they can speak with a doctor who can help them start their rehabilitation. Doctors can recommend the most appropriate treatment for preventing withdrawal symptoms and help quitting drugs.