The Connection Between Addiction & Heart Disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, with one person dying every 36 seconds from cardiovascular disease. It is important to keep in mind that substance abuse and addiction can increase the risk of developing heart disease and experiencing a cardiac event.
In light of American Heart Month, the experts at North Georgia Recovery Center are here to shed some light on the ways that substance abuse can impact your heart health.
How Drug Affect Cardiovascular Health
Cardiovascular disease happens when there is damage to the various tissues of the heart or the blood vessels that impact the heart’s ability to function properly and efficiently. Not only does this impact the heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body to the various organ systems, but it also impacts the ability to pump oxygen to vital organs like the brain.
Many drugs—like cocaine, heroin, and amphetamines—have an effect on the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system. Elicit drug use can cause the following:
- Collapsed veins
- Bacterial infection of the blood vessels
- Bacterial infection of the heart valves
- Aortic stiffening
- Increased blood pressure and heartrate
- Thickening of the heart’s left ventricle wall
- Heart attack
- Arrhythmia
- Brain hemorrhaging
- Ischemia
- Peripheral artery disease
Seeking Help for Addiction at North Georgia Recovery Center
The road to recovery starts with taking the first step. Let us walk alongside you on the path to sobriety and wellness. When you choose to get treatment at North Georgia Recovery Center, you can rest assured knowing that you will be treated by licensed therapists in our state-of-the-art facilities. Every one of our team members is certified to address and effectively treat the issues that come along with addiction.
To schedule your free consultation with our team, call (678) 940-7873 today.
