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Cocaine causes heart damage without showing symptoms

Cocaine causes heart damage without showing symptoms

Cocaine abuse can cause damage to the heart without the person having symptoms, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal.

For the study, grouped 25 men and 5 women with an average age of 37 years and consumed approximately 5.5 grams of cocaine for 12 years on average. The research found that half of these addicts also consumed other harmful substances, such as opium and alcohol, and about 20% of them were infected with hepatitis C or HIV. The authors did a series of physical tests and MRIs to detect any abnormality in the function of the heart. At the end of the examinations, they noticed that although the heart function appeared normal in all cases, there were anomalies in 12 patients and 83% in the prevalence of structural damage.

Almost half of the people examined had lower left ventricular edema , which indicates recent damage to the heart. Magnetic resonance imaging also revealed damage to cardiac tissue in 73% of drug addicts who could have been caused by a silent heart attack.

According to scholars, autopsies reveal that one in five cocaine addicts has a myocardial inflammation , and a quarter of non-fatal heart attacks in people younger than 45 years may be associated with cocaine use. The authors concluded that multiple drug abuse may have contributed to the type of damage detected in cocaine addicts, but caution that this would not explain all cases of cocaine addiction.

Cigarette, cholesterol and alcohol pose risk to heart health

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases cause 17.5 million deaths a year worldwide. The main risk factors are those whose effect of increasing cardiovascular damage has already been widely proven: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, age, genetic predisposition and gender (gender).

Contributing factors are those that may give rise to a higher cardiovascular risk but whose exact role in heart disease propensity has not yet been defined: stress, sex hormones, contraceptives oral, coffee and alcohol. Next, look at what are the most common risk factors in our daily lives and how they work against heart health.

Cigarette

Research shows that smoking increases heart rate, contracting arteries, and can cause serious irregularities in the heartbeat, increasing the workload of the heart. Smoking also raises blood pressure, which raises the risk of stroke in people with hypertension. "In general, cigarette attacks the vascular walls, increasing the chances of atherosclerosis (a disease that leads to the formation of plaques in the wall of the arteries), among other maladies," explains nutritionist and researcher at the Heart Institute (Incor), Fernanda Reis "In addition to carcinogenic, nicotine increases blood pressure and reduces good cholesterol, and can also increase thrombogenicity, disrupting the process of blood clotting," said Azevedo. says Bruno Caramelli, a cardiologist at Incor.

Although nicotine is the main active agent of cigarettes, other chemicals such as tar and carbon monoxide are also harmful to the heart. They contribute to the buildup of fat plaques in the arteries, damaging the walls of blood vessels. They also affect cholesterol and fibrinogen levels (responsible for blood clotting), thus increasing the risk of a blood clot that can lead to heart attack.Cholesterol

High blood cholesterol is one of the main cardiovascular risk factors. Studies have shown that reducing cholesterol in the blood reduces the risk of heart disease. LDL is called bad cholesterol because high levels of this substance are thought to contribute to cardiovascular disease.

Excess LDL in the blood gives rise to an accumulation of fat that can form plaques on the walls of the arteries. Thus, the process of atherosclerosis begins. The HDL particles carry the cholesterol back from the cells to the liver, where it can be eliminated by the body. According to the American Heart Association, drinking too much alcohol can increase blood levels of cholesterol.

High cholesterol some fats in the blood (triglycerides). The habit can also cause high blood pressure, heart failure and an increase in calorie intake, which can lead to obesity and an increased risk of diabetes.

Excessive alcohol consumption can also be a trigger for stroke, in addition to of causing other problems, such as cardiomyopathy (cardiac muscle disease), arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac death.


Oral fungus causes common oral infection

Oral fungus causes common oral infection

If you want to avoid or control a common infection popularly known as thrush, you have one more reason to visit your dentist, especially if you have diabetes, wear a prosthesis, or have some problem with the immune system. Also called candidiasis, the fungal infection causes painful white spots on the tongue or the inside of the cheeks.

(Health)

Colectomy: surgery removes all or part of the colon

Colectomy: surgery removes all or part of the colon

Colectomy is a surgical procedure to remove all or part of your colon. Better known as the large intestine, the colon is a tube-shaped organ located at the end of your digestive system. Colectomy may be necessary to treat or prevent diseases and conditions that affect the colon. Types There are several types of colectomy operations: Total colectomy: involves removal of the entire colon Partial colectomy : involves the removal of part of the colon.

(Health)