–Don James Kiriella–
As a strong stimulant, cocaine raises blood pressure and heart rate and makes its users more alert and energetic. These changes have a great influence on the short-term function of the heart. However, long-term use of the drug may result in long-term health issues for the heart. Long-term use of cocaine may cause damage to the heart structures or result in other serious heart health issues such as high blood pressure (Mersereau et al., 2015). A study carried out in 2014 revealed that younger people using cocaine had bloated left ventricles compared to non-users. Also, they were found to have stiff aorta, which is one of the heart’s major blood vessels (Mersereau et al., 2015). The damages listed above are known to increase the chances of heart health complications.
Long-term cocaine usage has been attributed to heart arrhythmias. Individuals who are addicted to cocaine are more likely to develop irregular or increased heart rates. This could be because cocaine is known to change potassium and sodium ions channels in the heart, which affects the electrical system. Many cocaine users may occasionally feel as if their heart is on a race while under the influence. In some individuals, this can result in anxiety. Research has shown that cocaine-related deaths happen during hot weather (Mersereau et al., 2015). This could be as a result of the heat-induced heart rate changes that may elicit heart rhythm.
The damage to the heart and blood vessels caused by the continuous use of cocaine may increase the chances of heart attack and stroke among users. Increased blood pressure and other risk factors such as coronary heart disease may make it easy for an individual to develop stroke or heart attack (Mersereau et al., 2015). Cocaine may also block certain sodium and potassium channels that influence the functioning of the heart. For this reason, users’ hearts may be damaged in the long run or develop irregular heart rhythms that may cause a heart attack.
Blood pressure is the amount of force used by the heart to force blood through the arteries as it pumps. 120/80 or lower is the normal blood pressure reading. However, blood pressure can increase to dangerous levels during different circumstances, including when an individual takes cocaine. Cocaine may result in high blood pressure since it elicits the production of catecholamine such as norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin (Kozor et al., 2014). When an individual uses cocaine, catecholamine is produced, which leads to the contraction of blood vessels—the contraction results in the blood vessels growing skinnier(Kozor et al., 2014). However, blood vessels are still required to allow the passage of the same blood volume, yet they are smaller. This forces the blood’s pressure to rise since their heart must use extra force to force blood along the constricted blood vessels.
When the blood vessels constrict naturally, there are safety mechanisms to check on the constriction so that it doesn’t continue for far too long. For example, blood vessels constrict during cold days, but not excessively until the muscle and skin begin to die. However, cocaine numbs the body, stops paying attention to the safety mechanism, and the blood vessels may constrict up to dangerous limits (Kozor et al., 2014). Protracted vasoconstriction may lead to reduced blood flow; a condition referred to as ischemia. Ischemia is dangerous for the body organs in many ways. Excessive vasoconstriction may be dangerous to body organs and tissues. For example, when prolonged, vasoconstriction deprives body cells of oxygen, making them unable to generate the energy they need for their normal functioning (Kozor et al., 2014). Lack of energy leads to the death of body cells.
The respiratory system is mainly used to provide oxygen to the body tissues and eliminate carbon dioxide. The lungs are the respiratory system’s main organ, but it is supported by numerous others, including the mouth, nose, pharynx, trachea, bronchi, and alveoli (Regalado et al., 2001). Respiratory disease can be mild conditions such as the common cold or severe and life-threatening ones such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Individuals who chronically abuse drugs such as cocaine are very susceptible to respiratory complications since the drugs may damage the body’s cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
Cocaine is a very harmful stimulant to the central nervous system. When taken, cocaine increases the firing rates of neurons found in the spinal cord and the brain. Secondly, it leads to the rapture of the lungs, a condition referred to as pulmonary barotrauma (Regalado et al., 2001). The continuous use of cocaine leads to vasoconstriction in arteries, veins, and capillaries of the vascular system, which results in the inurement of the lung membranes and the death of cells in the respiratory system. Smoking cocaine can cause rupture of veins and arteries (hemorrhage), swelling in the lungs, and pulmonary edema (Regalado et al., 2001). Also, it results to an increase in the likelihood of contracting asthma, bronchitis, or worsening of these conditions.
Complications in the upper pulmonary and respiratory systems have been on the rise in recent years. The most affected individuals are intravenous addicts, those of smoke ‘crack’ and freebase users. Cocaine has complex toxicity that is exerted through different central and peripheral paths (Regalado et al., 2001). Frequent sniffing of cocaine may lead to ischemia and other infections in the nasal mucosa and neighboring structures. .
The side effects of cocaine usage on the lungs depend on how it is administered (whether oral, intravenous, or nasal), the size of the dose, frequency of using the presence of other associated drugs, including marijuana or heroin. Cocaine use can lead to different types of damages to the lungs. The burned form of cocaine is tiny and can get to the alveoli within the shortest time possible.
Cocaine use damages the airway, from the bronchus to the alveoli of the lungs. Some of the symptoms that cocaine users should look out for include persistent coughs, wheezing sounds during breathing, and dyspnea. Patients suffering respiratory complications associated with cocaine use normally produce dark sputum. The dark color results from large quantities of carbon pigments coming from the bronchoalveolar lavage in patients abusing crack cocaine (Regalado et al., 2001). Radiologic examinations have shown patchy alveolar infiltrates in the lower and upper lobes of the heart.
References
Kozor, R., Grieve, S. M., Buchholz, S., Kaye, S., Darke, S., Bhindi, R., & Figtree, G. A. (2014). Regular cocaine use is associated with increased systolic blood pressure, aortic stiffness and left ventricular mass in young otherwise healthy individuals. PLoS One, 9(4), e89710.
Mersereau, E. J., Poitra, S. L., Espinoza, A., Crossley II, D. A., & Darland, T. (2015). The effects of cocaine on heart rate and electrocardiogram in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology, 172, 1-6.
Regalado, M. G., Schechtman, V. L., Khoo, M. C., & Bean, X. D. (2001). Spectral analysis of heart rate variability and respiration during sleep in cocaine‐exposed neonates. Clinical Physiology, 21(4), 428-436.
Vongpatanasin, W., Taylor, J. A., & Victor, R. G. (2004). Effects of cocaine on heart rate variability in healthy subjects. The American journal of cardiology, 93(3), 385-388.