TOXIC HEARTBEATS: Cardiovascular Symptoms And Complications After Recreational Drug Use - Diagnosis, Risks And Management

In this thesis, research is conducted into the risks of recreational drug use on heart and vascular conditions. Dutch physicians consider cocaine a risk factor for a heart attack, but do not change the treatment. Standard scores for risk assessment are used and the observation period remains the same. Research shows that this has proven to be safe. Patients often do not disclose their drug use to their doctor, leading to an overall patient reliability of only 57%.

Cannabis can cause heart problems such as palpitations, chest pain, and fainting, and combining it with alcohol increases the risk of rapid heartbeat and fainting. This research has demonstrated serious complications to the heart after drug use. After the use of 4-fluoroamphetamine, headaches can occur with high blood pressure, acute myocardial disease, brain hemorrhage, and a heart attack; after MDMA (ecstasy) use, acute myocardial disease, a brain hemorrhage, a heart attack, and cardiac arrest; after amphetamine use, high blood pressure, arrhythmia, and a heart attack; and after methamphetamine use, heart attacks occur. Synthetic cathinones, such as 3-MMC, can cause a heart attack, arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, myocardial disease, or myocardial inflammation. Chewing on khat leaves is a proven risk factor for a heart attack. Heart attacks or arrhythmias are rarely seen after cannabis use.

In 22% to 25% of cases, young patients with a heart attack have used drugs, particularly cannabis and cocaine. Whether a heart attack after drug use is more severe remains unclear due to varying results from studies.

In conclusion, all investigated stimulant drugs, as well as cannabis, can cause serious complications to the heart and blood vessels.