Substance abuse & cardiovascular ailments uprise and neglected domain: Dr Sushil
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: With rise in substance abuse among both adult and younger masses, and need to educate the masses about same, Head Department of Cardiology SSH Jammu, Dr Sushil Sharma organized a day long Cardiac awareness cum health Checkup camp at Amisha Palace, Badyal Brahmana area of R S Pura, Jammu where people were educated about the rising prevalence of substance abuse related cardiovascular diseases and ways to overcome it.
More than 400 people were screened, evaluated, diagnosed and free medicines were given as per the requirements.
While Interacting with the people, Dr Sushil stated that drug dependence is a social problem worldwide, and the physical implications are serious.
Many of these drugs cause cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases, which often require emergency medical treatment, Dr Sushil said adding that differential diagnosis is essential because of the likelihood of life-threatening events, especially among young people who exhibit cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases without any of the typical risk factors.
Drugs of abuse, especially stimulants, induce a hyper adrenergic state that evokes vasoconstriction and tachycardia, as well as subsequent ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, acute coronary syndrome, arrhythmias, and aortic dissection, Dr Sushil said adding that the more prominent drugs associated with cardiovascular disease are the stimulants and opioid drugs.
These may increase the risk of vascular and/or heart disorders by disrupting the balance of certain neurotransmitters, called catecholamines, in the body and brain. This may lead to dose dependent changes in blood pressure, abnormalities in the normal rhythms of the heart or blood vessels, increased blood clotting and increased arterial plaque formation.
He further maintained that many drugs, such as cocaine, heroin and various forms of amphetamine, affect the central nervous system and can alter a user’s consciousness.
In addition to addiction, the side effects and risks associated with use of these drugs include: changes in body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure, headaches, abdominal pain, and nausea, impaired judgment and greater risk of some sexually transmitted infections, the possibility of added substances (such as talc, poisons, herbicides or other particles) which may cause a toxic reaction, heart attacks, seizures, and respiratory arrest.
Even so-called recreational cocaine users may have higher blood pressure, stiffer arteries and thicker heart muscle walls than non-users all of which can cause a heart attack.
Researchers who called cocaine “the perfect heart attack drug” showed how users had higher rates of multiple factors associated with higher risks of heart attack and stroke. 30 percent to 35 percent increase in aortic stiffening, 8 mm Hg higher systolic blood pressure and 18 percent greater thickness of the heart’s left ventricle wall, He added .
Dr Sushil Sharma in his concluding remarks said that evaluation of substance abuse history, particularly methamphetamine abuse, opioid use/abuse, alcohol abuse and many other formulations may identify patients at a greater risk for cardiac morbidity.
Greater recognition and treatment of substance abuse disorders may lead to improved outcomes among cardiac patients and this thing should be addressed in a time bound manner in order to prevent the heavy toll which it may cause in future.
Prominent Citizens of the area Binny Sharma (Sarpanch), Kanta Sharma (Sarpanch), Om Prakash Sharma (former Sarpanch), Vijay Sharma, Kusum Sharma, Satish Sharma, Omprakash Sharma, Bansi Sharma, Ashok Kumar, Akshay Sharma and Vicky Sharma appreciated the efforts of Dr Sushil and his team for conducting cardiac awareness cum health check up Camp in their locality and hope such kind of initiative in near future also.
Others who were part of this camp includes Dr Yashwant Singh and Dr Sunny Raina. Paramedics and volunteers include Raghav Rajput, Kamal Sharma, Rajkumar, Gourav Sharma, Sandeep Pal, Mukesh Kumar, Maninder Singh, Rajinder Singh, Amandeep Singh, Gourav Sharma, Vijay Sharma, Subhash Sharma, Vikas Kumar, Suresh Raina and Manoj Kumar.
