• Skip to main content
  • Programs
    • Luxury Inpatient Program
    • Intensive Outpatient Program
    • Executive Treatment Program
    • Professional Athlete Treatment Program
  • Facilities
    • Scottsdale Rehab
    • Men's Residence
    • Women's Residence
  • Addiction
    • Alcohol Treatment
    • Meth Treatment
    • Heroin Treatment
    • Opioid Treatment
    • Prescription Drugs Treatment
  • Treatments
    • Addiction Counseling
    • Dual Diagnosis Treatment
    • Trauma Therapy
    • Holistic Therapies
    • Family Therapy
    • 12 Step Program
    • Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
  • Admissions
    • Verify Your Insurance
    • Private Pay
    • FAQ
    • What Should I Bring to Rehab?
    • Schedule a Tour
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Amenities
    • Locations
      • Scottsdale
      • Phoenix
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Inpatient Drug and Alcohol Guide to Rehab
  • Contact Us
We're Here To Help
(800) 715-2004
  • Programs
    • Luxury Inpatient Program
    • Intensive Outpatient Program
    • Executive Treatment Program
    • Professional Athlete Treatment Program
  • Facilities
    • Scottsdale Rehab
    • Men’s Residence
    • Women’s Residence
  • Addiction
    • Alcohol Treatment
    • Meth Treatment
    • Heroin Treatment
    • Opioid Treatment
    • Prescription Drugs Treatment
  • Treatments
    • Addiction Counseling
    • Dual Diagnosis Treatment
    • Trauma Therapy
    • Holistic Therapies
    • Family Therapy
    • 12 Step Program
    • Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
  • Admissions
    • Verify Your Insurance
    • Private Pay
    • FAQ
    • What Should I Bring to Rehab?
    • Schedule a Tour
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Amenities
    • Locations
      • Scottsdale
      • Phoenix
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Inpatient Drug and Alcohol Guide to Rehab
  • Contact Us
We're Here To Help
(800) 715-2004
Home » Blog » How Opioid Abuse Affects Heart Health

How Opioid Abuse Affects Heart Health

February 12, 2021 By Natalie Marston-Salem

The opioid epidemic has become impossible to ignore as it continues to spread throughout our communities. If you’re like many others struggling with opioid abuse, you probably didn’t mean for it to get this far; it’s just that the stress of your life or the pain from an injury became too much to bear.

While opioids may offer fast-acting relief, they come with a cost. Among its many detriments to your physical health, opioid abuse can damage your heart. In this blog, we’ll review how opioids affect your heart health.

Can Opioids Cause Heart Problems?

Since its inception, opioids have played a significant role in modern medicine for managing pain. Opioids work by attaching themselves to receptors in the brain and spinal cord to reduce the intensity of pain signals.

While alleviating in the moment, these drugs slow down your central nervous system and put a great deal of stress on your heart. This increases your risk for severe heart complications, including:

  • Atrial fibrillation (fast and irregular heart rhythms): Opioids can interfere with the electrical signals your brain sends to your heart. This disruption can create an irregular heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, coronary heart disease and blood clots. If a permanent heart rhythm abnormality occurs, you may struggle to do normal activities, like exercise.
  • Heart infections: If you inject opioids like heroin into your body, you’re at a greater chance of developing heart infections. The bacteria and other particulates in the drug can block the blood vessels leading to you heart, stressing the heart muscle and leading to life-threatening impediments.
  • Vasodilation (dilated blood vessels): Opioid abuse can widen your blood vessels. Wider blood vessels cause low blood pressure, which can lead to permanent damage to your heart and brain.

Heart Complications from Opioid Withdrawal

If you’re dependent on opioids, you’re likely to experience heart issues during withdrawal. It’s one of the main reasons why you should seek professional detox services. Medical professionals can monitor your health and help you manage withdrawal symptoms safely to avoid heart problems, such as:

  • Increased heart rate
  • Heart palpitations
  • Elevated blood pressure

Detox services can also help you avoid relapse and life-threatening overdoses. Opioid withdrawal increases your heart rate, since your body is used to a more depressed heart rhythm. Feeling like your heart is racing can trigger stress and anxiety, tempting you to use opioids again to feel better. Detox management from an addiction treatment center like Fountain Hills Recovery can help you get through withdrawal without relapsing and putting your health and life at continued risk.

Recover from Opioid Addiction at Fountain Hills Recovery

Fountain Hills Recovery is the top-rated luxury addiction and mental health treatment center in Arizona. It’s our goal to provide you with cutting-edge and compassionate addiction care that can help you achieve lasting recovery.

Our expert team can help you uncover the underlying causes behind your opioid addiction through individual therapy, group therapy and other experiential activities. Once you understand your addiction, you’ll learn healthy coping skills and relapse prevention techniques to maintain your sobriety.

If you’re ready to reclaim your life from opioid addiction, we’re here to support you. Contact our admissions team today to find out how to get started.

Categories: Opiate Addiction

Related Articles

  • Drugs addiction
  • Opiate Addiction

Withdrawal Symptoms of Fentanyl

May 16, 2022 By Natalie Marston-Salem

Fentanyl is one of the deadliest opioids due to its availability for misuse and its strength leading to an overdose. However, with proper care, we can help prevent it from...

Read moremore about Withdrawal Symptoms of Fentanyl
Doctor consulting patient.
  • Opiate Addiction

What You Need to Know About MAT for Opioid Addiction

September 23, 2021 By Natalie Marston-Salem

Over the past two decades, opioid addiction has blown up around the entire country, with opioid use disorders occurring all over the United States — from bustling urban areas to...

Read moremore about What You Need to Know About MAT for Opioid Addiction
  • addiction
  • Opiate Addiction

An Inside Look at Xanax Addiction and Dependence

August 10, 2021 By Natalie Marston-Salem

It was never your intention to abuse Xanax. What started as a medication to help you cope with anxiety evolved into a necessity to get through each day. Over time,...

Read moremore about An Inside Look at Xanax Addiction and Dependence

We're Here To Help

Call Now: 1-800-715-2004

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Privacy Policy
16872 E. Avenue of the Fountains, Fountain Hills, Arizona 85268

© 2023 Fountain Hills Recovery. All Rights Reserved.