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02/05/2010 - Cocaine-Related Sudden Death
In a recent paper published in the European Heart Journal on causes of sudden death in southwest Spain revealed that 3% of such deaths are cocaine-related and that the majority of these deaths are due to cardiac causes.
Two physicians, Drs. Lange and Hillis from the University of Texas Health Science Center state in an accompanying editorial “the notion that recreational cocaine use is ‘safe’ should be dispelled, since even small amounts may have catastrophic consequences. Physicians should consider the possibility of cocaine abuse in a young individual with cardiovascular disease or sudden death, especially in those without traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis.”
The Spanish study found that 81% smoked cigarettes and 76% had consumed alcohol. Human studies showed that “cigarette smoking substantially exacerbates the deleterious effects of cocaine on myocardial supply and demand.” Ethanol and cocaine together are associated with enhanced myocardial depression, decreased coronary arterial blood flow, cardiac rhythm disturbances, and sudden death.
Recreational cocaine use in the U.S. is estimated to be a lifetime prevalence of 15% of the population. The doctors in the study state that cocaine is “pharmacologically more dangerous than heroin and other opiates.” Dr. Lange from the University of Texas has been studying the cardiovascular effects of cocaine since 1989. “People need to be educated about the effects of cocaine. They think because they are not chronic, heavy users they are okay, but we need to make them aware that this is not benign. Many of the recreational abusers are not addicted and if they become aware this is a potentially life-threatening thing, you can potentially get them to stop using it.”