A 40 year old male presented to the ER with complaints of severe chest pressure and trouble breathing. The symptoms began earlier in the day and progressively worsened. His medical history was remarkable for tobacco use but no cardiac problems. Diagnostic tests were performed which confirmed his heart attack. He was also found to have a positive drug test. Typically, young males do not have a heart attack unless there is a precipitating factor such as cocaine use.
Cocaine is the most abused illegal stimulant in the United States. About 15% of adults have tried cocaine. About 34 million people age 12 or older have experimented with this highly addictive drug and about 1.5 million are regular users. Recently, the percentage of college students using this substance has increased.
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant of the central nervous system. It comes from the leaves of the Erythroxylum coca bush located in South America. Cocaine can be injected, snorted, swallowed, smoked, or rubbed onto gums. Its effect is immediate and wears off in about thirty to sixty minutes.
The signs and symptoms of cocaine use include:
1. Euphoria
2. Increasing sense of alertness
3. Elevated mood
4. Paranoia
5. Restlessness
6. Anxiety
7. Dilated pupils
8. Excited speech
9. Decreased appetite
10. Sense of power
11. Hallucinations
There are many more symptoms....here are some of the detrimental health effects
1. Increase risk for heart attacks
2. Abnormal and life threatening heart rhythms
3. Stroke
4. Emphysema
5. Stomach ulcers
6. Kidney failure
7. Impair sexual function
8. Psychosis
The risk of heart attack in the first hour after using cocaine is 24 times normal!!!
Nearly one-fourth of heart attacks in people ages 18 to 45 are cocaine related.
The patient underwent cardiac stenting and had a full recovery. I can only hope this was a wake-up call.
There have been thousands of cocaine related deaths but the one I always remember is Maryland basketball star Len Bias.
Talk to your children about drugs. A helpful guide is on the Family Doctor website. Click here.
Contact your primary physician for more information.
Also, useful websites include:
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator
If you have never tried cocaine, please don't...it only takes one time to potentially ruin your life.
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