Over the last few years, it seems as though opioids are the only drugs talked about in the news. And now, even opioid addiction news is harder to come by because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other national events. With so much going on, it’s important to remember that there is another threat that needs addressing – meth addiction.
In states like Florida, meth abuse has spiked. Factors like meth’s lower financial cost and its addictive qualities have set the stage for a potential new epidemic to take place. If you’re struggling with a meth addiction, it’s easy to let the intense high distract you from the dangers of the drug. These dangers include damage to your heart muscle.
Can Meth Abuse Damage the Heart?
While meth can cause substantial damage to a variety of organs in the body, it has a very dangerous impact on your heart health. It’s important to understand that the chemicals in each “batch” of meth vary wildly. In essence, you’re putting a toxic cocktail into your body with no way of knowing the damage it can do to your cardiovascular system until you use it.
There have been multiple studies that conclude meth abuse causes a variety of cardiovascular issues, including:
- Cardiac ischemia, or poor blood flow to the heart
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Hypertension or elevated blood pressure, which can cause kidney issues and even loss of eyesight
- Tachycardia or rapid heartbeat
How Does Meth Affect the Heart?
Meth causes the muscles in your heart to thicken and enlarge. This means your heart has trouble pumping enough blood to keep your body going. Meth use also causes your heart to try to bump that blood faster. Your heart working in overdrive like this can put significant strain on your heart muscle.
This leads to heart palpitations as your heart beats faster and struggles to pump enough blood to the rest of you body and brain. A weakened heart combined with a loss of blood flow makes meth users at higher risk of experiencing a stroke.
Meth can also lead to heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. When you abuse meth, a process called catecholamine takes place. Toxic chemicals in meth build up in your cardiac and vascular tissue, leading to heart disease. Meth abuse can even change the structure of the heart, which causes more complications.
The American Heart Association says that meth is much more dangerous than people think because of the way it can deteriorate heart health. While overdose is certainly a concern for those taking meth, many others are dying from heart disease triggered by meth abuse.
Added Risks of Meth Abuse on Your Heart
It’s clear that meth has a negative impact on your heart, but what makes it even more dangerous is how the damage can fly under the radar. Cardiovascular issues caused by meth abuse are hard for people to notice early on. When you first start using meth, you could feel fine, but the damage to your heart is still happening behind the scenes.
This is why it’s imperative that you seek addiction treatment as soon as you realize you have a problem. Addiction treatment centers like Footprints Beachside Recovery can help you overcome your meth addiction and get healthy again before any permanent heart damage occurs.
Find Hope for Lasting Change at Footprints Beachside Recovery
Meth addiction can often feel like an uphill battle, and the stigma commonly associated with addiction may make you feel isolated. The good news is you don’t have to carry the weight of your addiction alone. At Footprints Beachside Recovery, we’ve been through addiction ourselves, so we know what you’re going through.
No matter what your meth addiction has taken from you, we can help you get it back. At our family-run addiction treatment center in Florida, you can uncover your potential to reach lasting recovery. To get started on your journey, contact our admissions team today.
