What Are The Medical Complications That Arise With Cocaine Use?

Prolonged cocaine use has been associated with a host of medical conditions. Some of the most common complications are pains in the chest, loss of teeth, premature births, abortions and a host of many other complications. Doctors say cocaine use leads to tachycardia hypertension. The cause of this is that the body has increased its demand for oxygen.

Pulmonary complications are also evident where the users are involved in smoking crack cocaine as a mode of administration. The users develop chest pains within an hour of smoking. This is usually termed as “crack lung”.

Users fond of orally applying cocaine to their gum lining usually develop chronic teeth caused by erosion to the dental enamel. Many cocaine addicts eventually lose their teeth due to gingival ulceration at the point of application. Another cause of loss of teeth can be attributed to general self health neglect.

Medical complications may also occur in pregnant women. This is caused by occurrences in bone complications or sudden placental abortions. Pregnancies may also come as ectopic that are ruptured within just a short while. Fetal hypertension may also occur. When cocaine diffuses along the placenta, the fetus may develop hypertension. The resultant effect is not only a danger to it but to the mother.

Many cocaine users will use it alongside alcohol. The resultant effect is risky sexual behavior which exposes then to HIV infections. Those who use injection as a way of administering cocaine are in the biggest risk. Communal use of the syringe may bring with it an increased HIV infection rate. Specifically, by use of the method referred to a “booting” this is drawing in blood into the syringe then re-injecting it back to the vein.

Some other medical complications are heart attacks, strokes, heart and respiratory failure. Stomach complications are also common. Some users have reported abdominal pain. This may also be a pointer that the individual might have developed stomach ulcers.

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