Re: Cocaine cardiac toxicity
fastandbulbous said:
Cocaine is a lot more dangerous for your heart than other stimulants because of it's local anaesthetic activity. Ever noticed on programs like ER, that if someone has a heart attack they sometimes use lidocaine?
Thats because the local anaesthetic effects alter the way that heart muscles co-ordinate how they contract (almost like pressing a "reset" button if the heart goes into ventricular fibrillation). The reset effect also happens if the heart is working perfectly ok, sometimes knocking it into abnormal rhythms. Combine that with the effects cocaine has on dopamine/noradrenaline systems, and you're as good as asking your heart to fuck up.
If you check figures for cocaine related deaths/ermergency admissions, you'll find that quite a high percentage are due to cardiac complications, especially if you compare with other stimulants such as methamphetamine/amphetamine. Also, long term heavy use of coke will make you more likely to die from heart related problems.
The adnormal heart rhythms etc. would make sense, why cocaine is much more dangerous. at least it seems to be.
I am a heavy amphetamine user, never any problems with my heart rate etc.
even when i first started doing it, sure its bpm is probably double..but not noticeable in a bad way.
When i do cocaine, its like my heart goes into overdrive....fast to the point i actually start to think its adnormal - it makes the heart work so hard, even laying down.
skips beats, shocking pains etc. I have only experienced this with cocaine.
Now, from my dad and up in the family history....everyone has the heart disease "AFIB"
Which kinda goes with the way the above quote explains? maybe.
I probably have it, but never got checked. All i know, is amphetamines never work my heart or cause massive adnormal beats and skips/feelings like coke does.
So, yeah. If some of you say these reactions aren't normal for cocaine use.
Then the best thing to do is stop using it immeditatly. (guess i should think about taking that advice myself).
-As a side note.
When the cocaine is cut to much, or is a really shitty/low quality cut.
The symptoms DO double, so very possible that hardly anything i have seen is pure enough to be considered safe/easier on heart ;p
Same could go for original poster, happening only past 6 months