The Effects of Methamphetamine Use on Cardiovascular Disease
Meth addiction can affect the way a person thinks, feels, behaves, and responds to physical health risks. If you’re struggling with meth addiction, concern about heart health may not be the first thing on your mind.You might even ask yourself: Can meth cause a heart attack?
However, meth-related cardiovascular problems are a real risk for people who use the drug, and awareness matters.
This article covers facts about meth or crystal meth and heart attacks, the effects of methamphetamine use on the cardiovascular system, and ways to reduce risk by seeking appropriate medical and behavioral health support.
Catalina Behavioral Health provides meth addiction treatment in Tucson, AZ, with residential care, PHP, IOP, and outpatient treatment options. Catalina Behavioral Health does not provide on-site medical detox or withdrawal management. If medical clearance, hospital-based stabilization, or another pre-admission step may be appropriate before treatment, our admissions team can help discuss next steps.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.If you need immediate support, call or text 988.
Get Effective Meth Rehab Options at Catalina
Can Meth Cause a Heart Attack?
Yes, using meth can cause a heart attack. Cardiovascular events like stroke and heart failure are a known risk of long-term meth abuse.
People facing stimulant abuse are often well aware of consequences like skin and dental problems from meth, but you may be less aware of methamphetamine-related heart issues and their severity.
Research on cardiovascular pathology and meth use shows that heart problems are not a small risk of using the drug; they’re a leading cause of death in meth users. In fact, cardiovascular complications are the second leading cause of methamphetamine-related death.
Accidental overdose is the top cause of death in those who use meth.
Methamphetamine Abuse and the Cardiovascular System
While heart attacks resulting from methamphetamine abuse can seem like a distant or unlikely possibility, they aren’t. That said, here are some things you should know about methamphetamine use and the cardiovascular system.
Narrowing of the Blood Vessels
When you use meth, your blood vessels narrow and spasm, which harms the heart on a molecular level, potentially leading to permanent blood vessel damage. The strain meth puts on the heart muscle can cause heart problems while using the drug and later on, even if you no longer engage in methamphetamine use.
This does not mean that you should not stop using meth due to prior effects of the drug on the heart muscle; stopping is the best thing current meth users can do for their overall health and well-being. Instead, monitoring your heart health with the help of a provider and being aware of your health needs matters.
High Blood Pressure
Using meth increases blood pressure, which can raise your risk of heart attack. Meth users are also more likely to develop pulmonary hypertension, which is a condition that impacts the blood vessels in your lungs.
People engaging in meth use who experience pulmonary hypertension tend to present with more severe cases and face worse long-term outcomes compared to those who don’t use the drug.
Infections of the Heart
Meth use can lead to bacterial infections due to the use of shared equipment when injecting the drug. One possible type of infection resulting from methamphetamine use is called infective endocarditis, a serious type of heart infection.
Using safe and sterile equipment (needles) can be a mode of harm reduction for those currently experiencing drug dependence.
Sudden Cardiac Death
Rapid heart rate is almost always present in methamphetamine abusers. People who use meth may experience irregular heart rhythms, which can lead to more severe cardiovascular diseases and complications–even sudden cardiac death.
In some instances, meth users die from heart failure abruptly and without preemptive red flags.
How to Avoid a Heart Attack Caused by Stimulant Drugs
Those who beat drug or alcohol addiction often need to put special care into their mental and physical health. Here are some of the ways you may be able to avoid or lower your risk of cardiovascular problems and overamping related to stimulant drugs like meth.
Getting Help for Stimulant Drug Abuse
The safest path away from meth use depends on the person’s substance use history, physical health, mental health needs, and current symptoms. Stopping chronic meth use can be difficult, and some people benefit from structured addiction treatment in a supportive environment.
At Catalina Behavioral Health, we provide treatment for adults working to recover from methamphetamine use and other substance use concerns. We also support clients with mental health and dual-diagnosis disorders, which can be common among people who use stimulants.
When clinically appropriate, clients may begin with a higher level of care and step down into lower levels of support over time. Before discharge, our team helps clients plan for continued care, relapse prevention, and ongoing recovery support.
The best way those abusing methamphetamine can avoid a heart attack is to stop using meth. That said, we know that stopping chronic meth use on your own is not an easy feat. For many, getting addiction treatment in the right environment is what makes meth addiction recovery possible.
Knowing the Signs of a Heart Attack
Heart attacks can start slowly with minor symptoms, or they can have a rapid and intense onset. Knowing the warning signs of a heart attack can help you get immediate medical attention if you do experience one (or if someone you know starts to show the signs).
Signs of a heart attack include:
- Chest pain, which may come and return. Usually, this will occur in the center of the chest.
- Discomfort in other upper body areas, such as the back, jaw, neck, or shoulder.
- Shortness of breath.
Some people experience other signs of a heart attack, like nausea, vomiting, or lightheadedness.
Avoiding Additional Risk Factors for Heart Disease
Although meth use alone can make a person more likely to develop heart issues, avoiding other risk factors for heart disease can help protect your cardiovascular health. While you may not be able to prevent things like your family history or past drug use, your current actions matter.
For example, factors like tobacco smoking and unaddressed high blood pressure or cholesterol can heighten the likelihood of cardiovascular disease.
You can care for your heart health through regular doctor’s visits, physical activity, a nutritious diet, and not smoking. If you have other risk factors for heart attacks, like high blood pressure, kidney disease, or high cholesterol, following the guidance of a medical provider can help you avoid further strain on the heart muscle.
Many Forms of Insurance Accepted for Treatment
Call Catalina Behavioral Health for Meth Treatment Options Now
If you’ve been asking yourself, “Can meth cause a heart attack?” you’ve become aware of the toll addiction has taken on your body. The next step is to call our team for help.
Catalina Behavioral Health treats drug and alcohol use disorders from a whole-person perspective. Our programs are designed to help adults build healthier routines, learn relapse prevention skills, cope with triggers, and address underlying concerns that may contribute to meth use.
Please call Catalina Behavioral Health to learn more about meth addiction treatment options in Tucson, AZ. You are welcome to call for yourself or someone you care about who needs support for methamphetamine abuse or addiction.
FAQ About Meth Addiction and Heart Attacks
Can meth cause a heart attack?
Yes. Methamphetamine can put significant stress on the cardiovascular system. It may increase heart rate, raise blood pressure, narrow blood vessels, and make the heart work harder. These effects can increase the risk of chest pain, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, stroke, and other serious medical problems.
Why can meth be dangerous for the heart?
Meth stimulates the central nervous system and can cause the body to stay in a high-alert state. This can strain the heart and blood vessels, especially with repeated or heavy use. Over time, meth use may contribute to high blood pressure, inflammation, weakened heart muscle, abnormal heart rhythms, and other cardiovascular concerns.
What are possible warning signs of a meth-related heart problem?
Warning signs may include chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, severe sweating, pain spreading to the arm, jaw, neck, or back, rapid or irregular heartbeat, sudden weakness, or confusion. These symptoms can be serious. If someone may be having a heart attack, stroke, overdose, or another medical emergency, call 911 right away.
Can heart problems from meth use improve after stopping?
Some health risks may decrease after a person stops using meth, especially when they receive appropriate medical care and addiction treatment support. However, heart damage can sometimes be serious or long-lasting. Anyone with chest pain, heart rhythm concerns, high blood pressure, or other symptoms should speak with a qualified medical provider for evaluation.
Does Catalina Behavioral Health offer medical detox from meth?
Catalina Behavioral Health does not provide on-site medical detox or withdrawal management. Some clients may need medical clearance, hospital-based stabilization, withdrawal support from an appropriate medical setting, or another pre-admission step before beginning treatment. Our admissions team can help discuss next steps before residential care, PHP, IOP, or outpatient treatment for meth addiction.
Resources
- https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/methamphetamine#long-term
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/ATVBAHA.119.312461
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6880795/
- https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/warning-signs-of-a-heart-attack
- https://www.heart.org/en/news/2022/08/01/research-captures-unfolding-cardiovascular-toll-from-meth-use
