Methamphetamine use can cause both acute and chronic cardiac problems. Nurses play an important role in educating patients about the risks of methamphetamine use and in providing care for patients who are experiencing methamphetamine-related cardiovascular complications. This includes being able to recognize the signs and symptoms of acute cardiovascular events, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and dizziness.
Acute effects:
Chronic effects:
Mechanisms:
Methamphetamine's cardiovascular risk can be caused by a number of factors, including:
Darke et al. (2017) conducted a study analyzing 894 autopsy reports of methamphetamine-related deaths looking at the effects of long-term methamphetamine use on the cardiovascular system. Twenty-five percent had enlarged hearts, and 18.9% of cases were diagnosed with left ventricular hypertrophy. The average age was approximately 37 years old. Signs of previous myocardial ischemic events were evident. Cardiomyopathy and hypertension were also present. (Darke et al, 2017)
In summary, the analysis of 894 autopsy reports for methamphetamine-related deaths showed increased rates of cardiovascular disease, more commonly seen in males and adults older than 35 with significant methamphetamine use.
Reference
Darke, S., Kaye, S., & Duflou, J. (2017). Rates, characteristics and circumstances of methamphetamine-related death in Australia: a national 7-year study. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 112(12), 2191–2201. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.13897
Kevil, C. G., Goeders, N. E., Woolard, M. D., Bhuiyan, M. S., Dominic, P., Kolluru, G. K., Arnold, C. L., Traylor, J. G., & Orr, A. W. (2019). Methamphetamine Use and Cardiovascular Disease. Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology, 39(9), 1739–1746. https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.119.312461