Can Meth Cause a Heart Attack?

The Effects of Methamphetamine Use on Cardiovascular Disease

Meth addiction causes you to crave the drug and spend a significant portion of your time using, obtaining, or recovering from the effects of using meth. If you’re struggling with meth addiction, having a heart attack may be the last thing on your mind.

However, meth-related cardiovascular problems are a very real risk for anyone who uses the drug, and it’s essential to spread awareness.

So, can meth cause a heart attack? What about other cardiovascular complications?

This article will cover the facts about meth or crystal meth and heart attacks, the implications of methamphetamine use on the cardiovascular system, and how to avoid a heart attack caused by stimulant drugs like methamphetamine.

Catalina Behavioral Health provides effective meth addiction treatment in Tucson, AZ, covered by most health insurance plans. Call our admissions line to verify your insurance coverage today.

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 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.

At Catalina Behavioral Health, we provide a full continuum of care for people overcoming all types of drug use. We also work with mental health and dual-diagnosis disorders, which can be prevalent in those who use meth.

Withdrawal management services can help methamphetamine users through the acute withdrawal stage. From there, we offer inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment programs, which provide support and structure as you work to establish and maintain sobriety.

Usually, we recommend that clients start with inpatient care and use a step-down approach for the most favorable outcomes. We’ll help you make an aftercare plan before you leave our center, which will help set you up for lasting success in recovery.

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.

Call Catalina Behavioral Health for Meth Treatment Options Now

Catalina Behavioral Health treats drug and alcohol use disorders from a whole-person perspective. Our programs will help you or your loved one build new, healthy routines, learn relapse prevention skills, cope with triggers, and work through the underlying causes of meth abuse.

Please call Catalina Behavioral Health to learn more about our meth addiction treatment programs in Tucson, AZ. You are welcome to call for yourself or someone you care about who needs help overcoming methamphetamine abuse or addiction.

References

1. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/methamphetamine#long-term
2. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/ATVBAHA.119.312461 
3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6880795/
4. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/warning-signs-of-a-heart-attack
5. https://www.heart.org/en/news/2022/08/01/research-captures-unfolding-cardiovascular-toll-from-meth-use