Cocaine can have a number of risks, including the possibility of overdose and the risk of addiction. One issue you might not be familiar with is the risk of cocaine cardiomyopathy.

What is Cocaine Cardiomyopathy?

Cocaine is a potent stimulant associated with the development of numerous cardiovascular issues, including dysrhythmias (abnormal heartbeat) and hypertension (high blood pressure and heart attack).

Cocaine directly affects the cardiovascular system by causing blood vessel constriction, increased heart rate, and higher blood pressure, all of which can lead to strain on the heart.2

This can also lead to cocaine cardiomyopathy or cocaine-induced cardiomyopathy – a type of heart disease that occurs due to chronic cocaine use and associated damage to the heart muscle. Cardiomyopathy is a general term for diseases of the heart muscle that cause the walls of the heart chambers to become stretched, thickened or stiff, affecting the heart’s ability to pump blood around the body. Cocaine cardiomyopathy can progress to heart failure and potentially prove fatal if left untreated.

What Are the Symptoms of Cocaine Cardiomyopathy?

There are a number of potential symptoms of cocaine cardiomyopathy. Some early warning signs to watch out for could include:

  • Chest pain: Cocaine use can lead to severe chest pain, which may be a sign of a heart attack or other cardiac event.
  • Shortness of breath: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath can be a sign of heart failure.
  • Fatigue and weakness: Chronic fatigue, weakness, or feeling unusually tired may indicate that the heart is struggling to pump blood effectively.

Some more long-term or advanced symptoms of cocaine-induced cardiomyopathy could include:

  • Swelling in the legs, ankles or feet: Swelling can be a sign of fluid buildup in the body due to poor circulation or heart failure.
  • Irregular heartbeat: Palpitations or arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) may be caused by the damage cocaine does to the heart’s electrical system.
  • Dizziness or fainting: Feeling lightheaded, dizzy, or fainting can occur when the heart is not pumping blood to vital organs efficiently.
  • Excessive sweating or cold sweats: Excessive sweating, either during physical activity or at rest, can be a sign of heart distress.

How Cocaine Damages the Heart

There are a number of cardiovascular risks of cocaine. Cocaine use has been found to cause vasoconstriction, which involves the narrowing of blood vessels by small muscles in their walls. This can lead to reduced blood flow to the heart, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. It can be exacerbated if the use of cocaine is combined with smoking.

Cocaine use also elevates heart rate and blood pressure, which strains the heart over time. Regular use can see this damage increase over time, leading to cocaine-induced cardiomyopathy and increasing the risk of heart failure.

What Are the Risk Factors for Cocaine Cardiomyopathy?

While there are many things that can affect cardiovascular health in general, long-term cocaine use is the primary risk factor for developing cocaine cardiomyopathy. The heavier the use, the greater the risks – this applies to the frequency of use, the amount used and the strength of the cocaine used.

Individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular issues, high blood pressure or other heart disease risk factors may be more vulnerable to heart damage from cocaine. This means that combining cocaine use with other cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, drinking heavily, stress, and lack of exercise can increase overall risks. It’s worth noting, however, that even otherwise healthy people can develop cocaine-induced cardiomyopathy.

How Is Cocaine Cardiomyopathy Diagnosed?

Doctors will evaluate a person’s medical history, including drug use, and conduct a physical exam to check for signs of heart failure or other cardiovascular issues.

A number of diagnostic tests may also be used. These could include:

  • Electrocardiogram (ECG): To check for irregular heart rhythms.
  • Echocardiogram: To visualise the heart’s function and detect any damage to the heart muscle.
  • Chest X-ray or MRI: For detecting swelling or structural damage to the heart and lungs.
  • Blood tests: To assess markers of heart damage and other complications.

What Are the Treatment Options for Cocaine Cardiomyopathy?

Stopping cocaine use is the first step. Cocaine is highly addictive, and professional help and treatment may be required. There may then be a number of options, including the use of medications such as beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors and diuretics to help manage cardiovascular symptoms. In serious cases where the damage is severe, surgery may be required.

Beyond quitting cocaine, further healthy lifestyle changes, including a balanced diet and appropriate exercise, can help to improve and manage heart health moving forward.

Cocaine Addiction and Cardiomyopathy: The Need for Dual Treatment

If cocaine addiction and usage has led to cardiomyopathy, it is important to address both conditions simultaneously. If the cardiomyopathy is treated without addressing addiction issues, it is likely that further cocaine use will continue to cause further damage.

Any addiction treatment programme should also factor in any existing health issues, including cocaine-induced cardiomyopathy. A holistic treatment programme will treat both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction and any related conditions, with medical monitoring and supervision. This can be particularly important during the challenging detox period.

How Ocean Recovery Can Help with Cocaine Addiction and Heart Health

The link between cocaine addiction and heart disease means that particular care must be taken in any treatment programme, including thorough physical and psychological assessments and treatment plans tailored to meet individual needs.

At Ocean Recovery, we offer tailored addiction treatment plans that address both the addiction and its physical health consequences, including heart issues. This will include medically supervised detox and monitoring for individuals with cocaine-related heart problems, as well as a holistic programme of therapies and lifestyle guidance to promote psychological and physical recovery. A comprehensive aftercare programme can help you to maintain that recovery in the long-term.

Cocaine is an extremely addictive and potentially dangerous drug, which can cause untold damage to the heart and cardiovascular system. If you are worried about your own cocaine use or that of a loved one, contact Ocean Recovery today for a confidential consultation or assessment or to get the ball rolling with our comprehensive treatment programmes.

John Gillen - Director at Ocean Recovery

John Gillen - Author - Last updated: January 31, 2025

John is one UK’s leading professionals in the addiction recovery industry. Pioneering new treatment techniques such as NAD+ and ongoing research into new therapy techniques such as systematic laser therapy, John is committed to providing the very best treatment for people throughout the UK and Europe. During his extremely busy schedule, John likes to regularly update our blog section with the latest news and trends in the industry to keep visitors to our site as well informed as possible on everything related to addiction treatment.