Addiction and prolonged substance abuse are the underlying causes of many long-term mental and physical health problems. But can drugs cause a stroke? Recent studies have concluded startling details about drugs’ long-term impacts on neurobiological functions. The information below answers the question “Can drugs cause a stroke?” Here are all the details about strokes and drug-related impacts on the mind and body.
What is a Stroke?
To understand the impacts that cause a stroke, we must first understand what a stroke is at the basic level. Put simply, a stroke is a neuropathway blockage that obstructs blood flow to the brain. This blockage causes the immediate death of brain cells within the affected neuro region because of inadequate oxygen. Depending on the severity, these brain cell destructions can result in temporary or permanent paralysis, cognitive defects, or even death.
What Causes a Stroke?
Strokes are caused by a variety of reasons that can range from external impacts to preexisting internal issues. Strokes occur as a result of a brain or artery leakage, artery damage, a burst blood vessel, or other neurobiological reasons. So, how can drugs cause a stroke? For the same aforementioned reason, by inflicting neurobiological harms through weakening or obstructing brain vessels. You can minimize the likelihood of having a stroke by getting the proper scans and medically administered preventative methods.
Can Drugs Cause a Stroke?
Yes, drugs are a very common cause of several different types of strokes. Drug abuse alone significantly increases the likelihood of contracting a stroke. Various areas of the brain are impacted depending on the type of drug being used. Stimulants, depressants, prescriptions, and other types of abused drugs have different effects on different brain regions. Other factors to consider include preexisting conditions and individual bodily responses, which vary from person to person.
Types of Drug-Induced Strokes
A stroke is a generalized term people use when the truth is, not all strokes are the same. Depending on the drug type, here are the different types of strokes they can cause, in coordination with individual bodily responses.
This type of stroke stems from oxygen deprivation of the neuropathways. This severe depletion of oxygen level commonly induces seizures due to respiratory and neurobiological distress or heart attacks. This is a common occurrence of prolonged opioid abuse. Thankfully, our opioid addiction rehab programs can reverse these harms and restore normal oxygen levels.
Hemorrhagic strokes are internal bleeding or leakages often caused due to abnormal, sudden blood pressure elevation. This sudden rise in blood pressure puts strain on blood vessel walls, causing them to burst. This results in the subsequent hemorrhaging and impending strokes that can be fatal without immediate medical assistance. These strokes are common inducers of potent stimulants. It’s important to note that this type of stroke is unlikely to happen after a single use, though not impossible. These drugs weaken blood vessel and artery walls over time, eventually leading to aneurysms and ruptures.
The venous system in the cerebral region is responsible for maintaining adequate circulation and drainage to other parts of the body. Potent stimulants disrupt this process by inducing a stroke called cerebral venous thrombosis. This type of stroke strains the vital structure of the venous system by forming blood clots in that region, hindering circulation and drainage. Over time, this causes the formed blood clots to burst or leak into the brain.
Some strokes begin in other vital organs and travel to the brain. Such is the case with cardioembolisms, which are blood clots that begin in the heart and make their way to the brain through natural blood flow. This causes blockages along the way that deprive the brain of necessary nutrients and oxygen to function naturally. This eventually leads to fatal heart or brain infections.
Unlike hypoxic-ischaemic strokes, Ischemic strokes, excluding oxygen deprivation, strictly involve developed blood clots within arteries in the brain. This includes associated blood vessels within the cranial region. These strokes have two separate classifications, called thrombotic and embolic. Thrombotic strokes involve strokes resulting from blood clots in the brain, while embolic clots form anywhere else in the body.
Drug-Induced Stroke Symptoms
Some physical, mental, and behavioral indicators are telling of an impending stroke. Seek immediate professional help if you experience any of the following symptoms.
Your body gives you warning signs of an impending stroke. One of those signs is numbness or loss of feeling in your chest, face, or appendages. This is often accompanied by a tingling sensation or other numbing-related abnormalities. Don’t ignore this symptom as it often means a stroke can be right around the corner. Go straight to the ER if you begin feeling unnatural or abnormal numbness in these regions.
Dizziness can occur for several reasons, such as sitting or standing too quickly. However, sudden dizziness or circumstantial distortion for no underlying reason is a sure sign of a deeper problem. If you experience dizziness or abnormal disorientation in conjunction with drug use, it may be a preliminary symptom of an impending stroke.
Drugs indeed distort your vision to some extent. However, visual distortions such as double or blurred vision, or even vision loss, are a much different matter entirely. These types of visual distortions are common visual symptoms of stroke-related abnormalities. This also includes possible hallucinations unrelated to drug use. These stroke-related visual distortions can occur in one or both eyes, depending on individual variables.
Drug-induced nausea or vomiting is indicative of two issues. Both of which are life-threatening. One, nausea is a common side-effect of a drug overdose. Second, nausea, especially to the point of vomiting, is a sure indication of a potential stroke. Seek emergency help upon experiencing drug use-related nausea, as it may be a sign of a serious issue.
Again, your body gives you feeling indicators when something is amiss. Severe headaches in conjunction with drug use are one of those symptoms your body gives off to tell you something is wrong. This is your body telling you that the drugs in your system are not interacting properly with your neurobiological processes. This can be due to an overdose or neurobiological hindrances that are the precursor of a stroke.
It’s normal when under the influence to have some minor degree of slurred speech. What is not normal is having difficulty forming words entirely to the point of abnormally slurred speech. This is precisely what occurs when your neuropathways have a blockage that disrupts this cognitive function. Hence, it is an immediate precursor to having a stroke.
Drug Addiction Treatment
Fortunately, Discovery Institute offers cutting-edge addiction rehab optimal to restore body and brain health. Here are the most effective addiction treatment options we provide to facilitate mental and physical healing.
Our detox program in New Jersey is the only way to safely recover from addiction. Self-attempted detox is a primary accelerant of inducing brain trauma to include potential strokes. That’s because some addictions require strict medical administration and monitoring to overcome properly. Our specialists are eager to show you the joys of rehab through our symptom-alleviating procedures.
Our residential treatment programs supply our patients with the maximum attentiveness needed to overcome addiction obstacles. This means having total access to our arsenal of relapse prevention and withdrawal management techniques. This includes personalized training specific to your recovery needs. You’ll find peace, confidence, and motivation in our individualized residential addiction programs the moment you set foot on our premises.
Our treatment programs focus on individual therapy and group therapy sessions to help you open up to our specialists in every way. That’s because our core values stress that the key to every successful sobriety is to listen to our patients. Listening to your needs, struggles, and concerns is what enables the full extent of our tools to personalize treatment to address each client’s unique needs.
Many individuals with an addiction have co-occurring mental health disorders. In these cases of multiple addiction or mental health diagnoses, dual-diagnosis treatment is required. This is not generalized therapy for multiple disorders, but a process designed to get to the root of each diagnosis. In our in-depth dual-diagnosis treatment, you’re in the best of care with our highly trained professionals.
Innumerable individuals fall into relapse because they lack the appropriate tools. What’s more dangerous is the fact that they often overindulge in their relapse, resulting in overdose and strokes. We go the extra mile to ensure you have all the preventative methods at your disposal with our relapse prevention program. Find your failsafe sobriety sustenance by learning from our relapse prevention plan experts today.
Discovery Institute Aims to Educate Those in Recovery
Being informed is a vital tool for achieving recovery. That’s why the Discovery Institute is equally devoted to keeping our patients informed as we are to their sobriety. Hence why we incorporate instructional tactics into all of our highly effective therapy programs. This plethora of informative tools helps you keep your guard up to sustain sobriety independently. Call us now to get the most comprehensive and informative treatment you could ask for.
Dr. Michael DeShields, MD, ASAM, DABAM, is a distinguished Medical Director with nearly 40 years of expertise in addiction medicine. A diplomate of the American Board of Addiction Medicine and the American Society of Addiction Medicine since 1996, he is renowned for his leadership and commitment to evidence-based, patient-centered care. Dr. DeShields earned his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and completed his training at Cooper University Medical Center, where he cultivated his passion for addiction treatment. His dedication and innovation continue to shape the field, guiding clinical teams and supporting patients on their recovery journey.
