Cocaine abuse has many harmful effects on the body and mind. One of the common complications is damage to the heart and cardiovascular system.
A study from the Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance surveyed 94 people who struggled with cocaine addiction and found that 71% experienced some form of cardiovascular disease, including many with coronary heart disease.
Due to these high rates of heart disease and cardiovascular damage, it’s important to be aware of the effects of cocaine use and why seeking addiction treatment is necessary. Heart disease can become life-threatening, so it isn’t something to take lightly.
We’ll discuss cocaine and heart disease in-depth in the rest of this article to help you understand the symptoms, risks, and resources available for cocaine addiction treatment.
How Cocaine Affects the Heart
Stimulant drugs like cocaine cause vasoconstriction, meaning they make the blood vessels smaller. It ends up decreasing oxygen supply to the heart while increasing your heart rate and blood pressure. These effects are why you’ll often see cocaine and high blood pressure linked.
Too much vasoconstriction, such as from ongoing cocaine use, can cause health problems. One of those health problems is heart disease, resulting from damage that occurs when the heart frequently has a low oxygen supply and is working harder to pump blood through the body.
In addition to heart disease, stimulant heart damage can result in other health consequences such as irregular heart rhythms, chest pain, and blood clots.
The Hidden Danger – Why It’s a Silent Killer
Cocaine-related heart disease can be a silent killer because you don’t always feel the damage as it accumulates. Stress or damage to the heart isn’t always noticeable right away, so some people may feel fine for a while before health issues start to catch up with them.
The effects of drugs like cocaine can also make someone feel rundown when they aren’t using them, so someone could assume that not feeling well is associated with fatigue or withdrawal resulting from drug use.
Cocaine and Sudden Cardiac Death
Another reason why it can be a silent killer is major health complications can happen quickly after cocaine use.
Many studies show that sudden cardiac death can occur due to cocaine’s intense stimulating properties rushing through the body, combined with its toxic effects on the cardiovascular system. That includes high cocaine heart attack risks and other sudden symptoms like seizures.
Genetic predispositions to heart disease or cardiovascular health conditions are also associated with higher risks of sudden cardiac problems after using cocaine. It can even happen the first time someone uses it or for casual users.
Common Signs of Cardiac Distress from Cocaine
Common signs to look for to know if someone is experiencing cardiac distress from cocaine include:
- Chest pain or tightness
- Shortness of breath
- Irregular heartbeat (usually a heartbeat that’s too fast)
- Lightheadedness or fainting
- Sweating
- Looking pale
- Arm, neck, or jaw pain
If someone is experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to get them immediate medical attention. You should call 911 right away and inform them that the symptoms started after cocaine use, so paramedics can provide the right type of treatment.
Long-Term Heart Damage from Cocaine
Long-term cocaine use can lead to even more damage that may remain even after stopping use and getting treatment. Common long-term effects include:
- Scarring of the heart that reduces its function
- Increased risk of stroke and heart attack
- Ongoing arrhythmias, mainly tachycardia, where the heart has episodes of beating too fast
- Early onset of heart failure
These health consequences are serious and can lead to life-threatening effects. Treating cocaine addiction as soon as possible is essential to reduce the chances of these health effects occurring.
Why Quitting Alone is Dangerous
It’s common to consider quitting cocaine on your own. However, detoxing alone can be dangerous, especially if someone has any heart-related health conditions.
One of the biggest risks is that severe withdrawal symptoms can occur, such as hallucinations, extreme anxiety, or seizures. These would require immediate medical attention to stabilize the individual.
Cocaine withdrawal symptoms can also affect the cardiovascular system, such as causing an increased heart rate or high blood pressure that could lead to a heart attack or cardiac distress in those with a preexisting heart condition.
Lastly, cocaine withdrawal can be hard on your mental health. It’s common to experience symptoms like depression, anxiety, or strong cravings for cocaine. Having support ensures you don’t feel alone and reduces the risk of relapse.
Opting for a medical detox is a great option to have 24/7 support and medical care available to keep you as comfortable and safe as possible throughout the process.
Recovery is Possible
Recovery from cocaine addiction and cardiac health conditions is possible, and it’s best to seek treatment early before things get out of hand.
There are many success stories of people who have recovered.
For example, a case study in 2014 assessed the treatment of a 24-year-old man who was diagnosed with cocaine cardiomyopathy, tachycardia, and high blood pressure, resulting from ongoing cocaine abuse. Five months after stopping cocaine use and receiving appropriate medical care for cardiovascular health issues, the patient made a full recovery, and his health markers improved greatly.
The right support and care can make a difference, and many treatment options are available that can help.
How United Recovery Project Can Help
United Recovery Project is a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center that can help with cocaine rehab. Our treatment process includes:
- A comprehensive medical evaluation, including cardiovascular health
- Medical detox that provides 24/7 support for safety and comfort
- Individualized treatment plans that can monitor and account for the effects of cardiac conditions
- Inpatient and outpatient treatment options consisting of therapy, skill building, and relapse prevention planning
- Lifestyle education for diet, fitness, and stress management
- Aftercare to provide ongoing support after finishing a treatment program
Our treatment programs are customized based on each client’s needs to treat the whole individual and achieve high success rates.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Wait for a Wake-Up Call
Cocaine abuse can have many consequences on your health and well-being, including heart damage. Don’t wait until the problem gets worse or causes serious health problems. Recovery is possible, and early intervention saves lives.
Our team at United Recovery Project is here to support you throughout the process. You can get in touch with us today to schedule a free consultation or learn more about our treatment options.
References
- Maceira, Alicia M, et al. “Long Term Effects of Cocaine on the Heart Assessed by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance at 3T.” Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, vol. 16, no. 1, 2014, p. 26, doi:10.1186/1532-429x-16-26. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1097664723000868?via%3Dihub
- Bachi, Keren, et al. “Vascular Disease in Cocaine Addiction.” Atherosclerosis, vol. 262, 1 July 2017, pp. 154–162, doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2017.03.019. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5757372/
- Ditaranto, Raffaello, et al. “Cocaine-Induced Sudden Cardiac Death Unravelling a SCN5A-Related Disease.” JACC: Case Reports, vol. 30, no. 5, 5 Mar. 2025, p. 103174, doi:10.1016/j.jaccas.2024.103174. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666084924012385
- Antonio, Georgiev, and Zhivadinovik Julija. COCAINE CARDIOMYOPATHY -A CASE REPORT. https://sanamed.rs/sanamed_pdf/sanamed_9_3/Georgiev_Antonio.pdf
