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What Causes Redness And Warm Sensation Of Left Arm Post Meth Intake?

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Posted on Fri, 14 Aug 2015
Question: After smoking meth my left arm goes very hot and red and my left breast hurts
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (50 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
meth can cause such symptoms by constricting vessles

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for writing to us.

Meth speeds up the pumping action of the heart and raises blood pressure. Both of these effects strain the heart and blood vessels. The heart helps to push blood around the body because this organ is a muscular pump.

As the heart beats faster and for prolonged periods because of meth, it requires more oxygen. But this drug can shrink the size of arteries, which transport oxygen-rich blood to the heart. A heart that’s forced to pump faster without enough oxygen can become damaged. As a result of all of these negative cardiovascular effects, sometimes meth users can develop chest pain, rapid heartbeats and, in some cases, heart attacks and stroke.Although these extreme results are not common in the short term, the effect of repeated use of meth is to pave the way for future heart disease.
Above mechanism is responsible for your current symptoms of hot and red left arm and pain left breast after meth smoking.


If you have smoke meth first time , changes will be reversible. In that case also you should consult doctor for evaluation of cardiac check-up.

If you are regular smoker please consult doctor/ER soon for investigations like EKG, 2-D echo to prevent further damage.

In any case you should not smoke meth again.

Hope I have answered your query, i will be happy to help further.

Regards,

Dr.Chintan Solanki.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Chintan Solanki (22 minutes later)
Okay I've been a heavy smoker for 2 yrs of meth n prior to that I have as injecting amphetamine regularly for 15 years, I'm on olmetec 60 mg day for blood pressure n I'm 36 and overweight, so if I gave up smoking ice the red arm will stop? But I should go n get heart checked? Is there any other symptoms I need to look out for?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (11 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
yes you must go for cardiac check up

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for follow up and more information.

You are already on treatment for blood pressure, overweight and having history of heavy use of meth .These factors suggest that current symptoms might be due to ischemia to heart. If you have sweating, heaviness in chest with difficulty in breathing go to ER for immediate check-up.
Stopping meth will at least prevent further damage. For current symptom relief your check needed and then treatment can be given accordingly.

In favour of future health you must stop meth by deaddicted yourself your own or with help of deaddcition specialist.

Feel free to discuss further.
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Chintan Solanki

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 2406 Questions

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What Causes Redness And Warm Sensation Of Left Arm Post Meth Intake?

Brief Answer: meth can cause such symptoms by constricting vessles Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for writing to us. Meth speeds up the pumping action of the heart and raises blood pressure. Both of these effects strain the heart and blood vessels. The heart helps to push blood around the body because this organ is a muscular pump. As the heart beats faster and for prolonged periods because of meth, it requires more oxygen. But this drug can shrink the size of arteries, which transport oxygen-rich blood to the heart. A heart that’s forced to pump faster without enough oxygen can become damaged. As a result of all of these negative cardiovascular effects, sometimes meth users can develop chest pain, rapid heartbeats and, in some cases, heart attacks and stroke.Although these extreme results are not common in the short term, the effect of repeated use of meth is to pave the way for future heart disease. Above mechanism is responsible for your current symptoms of hot and red left arm and pain left breast after meth smoking. If you have smoke meth first time , changes will be reversible. In that case also you should consult doctor for evaluation of cardiac check-up. If you are regular smoker please consult doctor/ER soon for investigations like EKG, 2-D echo to prevent further damage. In any case you should not smoke meth again. Hope I have answered your query, i will be happy to help further. Regards, Dr.Chintan Solanki.