Risky White Lines
Jan. 4, 2001 -- It's been known for nearly 20 years that recreational cocaine use is linked to heart attacks. Now a new study shows the danger isn't limited to just older people with weaker hearts. In fact, researchers say, regular cocaine use is tied to about one-quarter of all nonfatal heart attacks in American adults under age 45.
Researchers from the University of Buffalo in New York came to that conclusion after examining data from the National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), a massive study conducted between 1988 and 1994 by the CDC in Atlanta.
In the NHANES III survey, more than 40,000 Americans were examined and questioned on many topics, including the extent of their cocaine use. As it turns out, about 5% of 18- to 45-year-olds -- predominantly male and African-American -- reported regular use of the drug. Using statistical methods, the researchers concluded that if that group of young adults stopped using cocaine, their number of nonfatal heart attacks would drop by 25%.
"The magnitude of the risk was astonishing," says lead author Adnan I. Qureshi, MD. And even though the heart attacks weren't fatal, he says, the damage they leave behind is never fully repaired.
"Even though we can't say anything [statistically] about fatal heart attacks, the fact that there is cardiovascular disease provides strong evidence to suggest the risk of fatal heart attacks would be higher in cocaine users," he says.
Even though scientists accept that cocaine use is linked to heart attacks, Qureshi says, they haven't yet agreed on why. One possibility is that among the geyser of chemicals released from nerve endings during cocaine use are substances that cause the heart to pump faster and harder.
Hearts may not be used to such stimulation, or the intensity of the stimulation might just be overwhelming. Cocaine also can cause constriction of the blood vessels, he says, which could overwork the heart. And to make matters worse, cocaine users are more likely to throw off blood clots.
One thing that seems fairly certain: The higher the use of cocaine, the higher the risk of cardiac problems. What's especially troubling about that is the addiction and tolerance that develop with cocaine use. The longer coke addicts use the drug, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the larger and more frequent dosages they need to get high.
Risky White Lines
Jan. 4, 2001 -- It's been known for nearly 20 years that recreational cocaine use is linked to heart attacks. Now a new study shows the danger isn't limited to just older people with weaker hearts. In fact, researchers say, regular cocaine use is tied to about one-quarter of all nonfatal heart attacks in American adults under age 45.
Researchers from the University of Buffalo in New York came to that conclusion after examining data from the National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), a massive study conducted between 1988 and 1994 by the CDC in Atlanta.
In the NHANES III survey, more than 40,000 Americans were examined and questioned on many topics, including the extent of their cocaine use. As it turns out, about 5% of 18- to 45-year-olds -- predominantly male and African-American -- reported regular use of the drug. Using statistical methods, the researchers concluded that if that group of young adults stopped using cocaine, their number of nonfatal heart attacks would drop by 25%.
"The magnitude of the risk was astonishing," says lead author Adnan I. Qureshi, MD. And even though the heart attacks weren't fatal, he says, the damage they leave behind is never fully repaired.
"Even though we can't say anything [statistically] about fatal heart attacks, the fact that there is cardiovascular disease provides strong evidence to suggest the risk of fatal heart attacks would be higher in cocaine users," he says.
Even though scientists accept that cocaine use is linked to heart attacks, Qureshi says, they haven't yet agreed on why. One possibility is that among the geyser of chemicals released from nerve endings during cocaine use are substances that cause the heart to pump faster and harder.
Hearts may not be used to such stimulation, or the intensity of the stimulation might just be overwhelming. Cocaine also can cause constriction of the blood vessels, he says, which could overwork the heart. And to make matters worse, cocaine users are more likely to throw off blood clots.
One thing that seems fairly certain: The higher the use of cocaine, the higher the risk of cardiac problems. What's especially troubling about that is the addiction and tolerance that develop with cocaine use. The longer coke addicts use the drug, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the larger and more frequent dosages they need to get high.
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