Our cardiovascular system is responsible for pumping blood around our body.

It includes our heart and blood vessels. It gets oxygen to our organs to keep them functioning. Sadly, almost one in three deaths in New Zealand are caused by cardiovascular disease. 

Drugs, especially stimulants that speed up the heart like methamphetamine, cocaine, nicotine, and some prescription medications, can put serious strain on this system. Alcohol also increases your risk of heart failure and diseases, and the Heart Foundation have useful suggestions on their website. Sometimes, there aren’t any obvious warning signs to notice and you’ll need to check. 

 

Some useful checks are: 

  • Heart rate. When relaxed, your pulse should be between 60 to 100 beats per minute.  
  • Press your fingernail until it turns white and then release. It should return to its usual colour in under two seconds, if it doesn’t your circulation may be impaired. 
  • Blood pressure. Usually blood pressure is about 120/80 mmHg. Many pharmacies offer free blood pressure checks. 
  • Noticing if you are short of breath when getting about. Don’t assume this is a lack of fitness, especially if you are using stimulants like methamphetamine and cocaine, as it could be an indication of heart problems that need to be checked. Ask your doctor to check your heart if you don’t feel confident talking to them about your drug use. 
  • Use the My Heart Check from the Heart Foundation to estimate your heart age. 

Some symptoms are dramatic, like chest pain or fainting. Other more subtle warning signs are: 

  • Chest pressure or pain (sometimes felt in the shoulder, neck, or arm). 
  • Irregular heartbeat or a racing pulse. 
  • Feeling lightheaded, dizzy, or fainting. 
  • High blood pressure or sudden changes in blood pressure. This often is hard to spot without checking, although you might feel a full feeling in your head or have a headache. 
  • Shortness of breath during rest or light activity. 
  • Swelling in the legs, ankles, or abdomen. 
  • Cold fingers and toes. 
  • Fever that won’t go away, especially if you inject drugs as it may be a sign of endocarditis. 
  • Persistent fatigue or low energy. 
  • Blue lips or fingertips – get medical help straight away. 
  • Signs of a stroke – get medical help straight away. The acronym F.A.S.T. is a simple way to remember these signs. It stands for Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties, Take action – call 111. 

It can help to take note of these if these symptoms stick around or get worse, as that’s a sign to investigate further. 

Doctors have several tools to assess your heart health. If you feel comfortable, sharing what drugs you have used with them can help them provide better care. Some drugs damage heart muscle, increasing the risk of heart attacks, even in younger people. 

They may: 

  • Check your blood pressure, to identify risks or if it changes over time. 
  • Ask you to do some blood tests, depending on your situation. These may include tests for cholesterol, troponin (to detect heart muscle damage), and BNP (to screen for heart failure). 
  • Ask you to have an electrocardiogram (ECG) to detect abnormal rhythms or signs of a heart attack. 
  • Ask you to have a chest x-ray to see if there is fluid in the lungs, if the heart is unusually large, and if there are signs of cancer. 
  • Ask you to have an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) to check for structural issues like thickened walls or poor pumping function. 
  • These may include stress tests, such as checking your heart while you do some exercise, to see how your heart responds to exertion.