Drug Misuse
Stimulants like amphetamines, methamphetamines, and cocaine can narrow the coronary arteries, reducing blood flow and resulting in a heart attack. Injecting illegal substances can also result in cardiovascular issues like bacterial infection in the blood vessels and collapsed veins.
Cocaine-related heart attacks are one of the leading causes of sudden death in young individuals. Cocaine in the powdered form is either injected into the circulation or inhaled through the nose (snorting) and absorbed through nasal tissue.
Cocaine that has undergone processing to create a rock crystal that may be smoked is known as crack. Recreational cocaine users might have thicker heart muscle walls, stiffer arteries, and greater blood pressure than non-users, all of which can result in a heart attack.
Australian research was the first study to show these circulatory anomalies in seemingly healthy frequent cocaine users after the drug’s short-term effects had gone off. Researchers demonstrated that users had higher rates of several indicators linked to increased heart attack and stroke risks, calling cocaine “the perfect heart attack drug.”
