If you or a loved one are a regular user of drugs, it’s important to consider the possible health consequences of using these substances. Drugs are known to cause a wide variety of health issues, and there is some research suggesting that drugs can make you more likely to have a stroke.
If you have a heart condition or if you’re a regular user of stimulants, like amphetamines or cocaine, you might want to keep track of your heart health. These drugs are known to cause problems in the cardiovascular system and can make you more likely to have a stroke.
If you’re worried about your drug use, consider checking in with an addiction treatment San Diego facility.
How can drugs cause strokes?
There are several different drugs that may lead to strokes. For the most part, these drugs are stimulants.
Stimulants work by increasing the power of the nervous system. In doing this, they cause a number of symptoms including:
- Increased heart rate
- Increased temperature
- Perspiration
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased breathing and oxygenation
All of these different factors can cause strain on your cardiovascular system.
Thanks to the advent of technology such as magnetic resonance angiography, researchers are now able to actually observe the way that drugs act in the brain. One of the drugs of interest is cocaine, a popular nervous system stimulant that causes habitual drug use.
Cocaine, as well as other stimulants (including, to a lesser degree, common stimulants like caffeine) are known to increase blood pressure. Extreme levels of blood pressure can actually press up against the arteries so intensely that they can become ruptured, causing a hemorrhagic stroke.
Stimulants can also contribute to strokes by tightening the blood vessels. Over time, this prevents the brain from receiving the blood that it needs. This makes one more likely to experience an ischemic stroke.
Do drugs always cause strokes?
If you have only used stimulants once or twice, then you’re most likely not running a serious risk of having a stroke. However, in rare cases, it is possible. Extremely high doses of stimulants can cause strokes on their own. Highly sensitive people may also be more likely to have a stroke.
There have been documented cases of people having a stroke after a single use of cocaine or another similar stimulant. While these cases are rare, it’s certainly worth considering. The fact that these drugs can cause strokes after a single use means that one can never really be certain of the danger that they’re facing.
If you have high blood pressure, previous heart problems, or diabetes, then you’re going to be more likely to experience a stroke after using drugs. People with any cardiovascular issues should be extremely careful when deciding whether or not to use drugs.
Conclusion
If you or a loved one are worried about having a stroke from using drugs, you might want to check out an addiction treatment San Diego facility. These rehab centers can help you understand your drug cravings and learn to overcome these difficulties before you experience any serious health problems.
