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What Do The Following ECHO And Stress Test Reports Indicate?

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Posted on Tue, 15 Nov 2016
Question: Hi there i was speaking on this earlier regarding my heart and bluish nails i spoke to another doctor and they said if i took cocaine it could cause problems with my heart , i took it before i got my echo and stress test and then once after but i had another stress test could this cause damage or heart failure ? Im really concerned now would a small amount cause this or would it have to be regulary ? Thanks
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (36 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Welcome back again on HCM!

Regarding your concern, I would explain that cocaine is a stimulant of the central nervous system, causing a rush of adrenaline and noradrenaline in your blood after taking it.

In the first hours after taking cocaine, vessel constriction and tachycardia occur, due to sympathetic nervous system activation. These effects can lead to increased heart rate, tachycardia and even cardiac arrhythmia or heart attack (acute coronary event). Other effects of cocaine are high blood pressure, increase of body temperature, muscle cramps, increased frequency in breathing and anxiety. Other neurological disorders like stroke can also occur, especially in high doses.

These effects usually go away after some hours.

But the chronic use of cocaine can cause irreversible changes in blood vessels and the heart, leading to chronic hypertension, cardiac conduction disorders and even cardiac hypertrophy.

But, these effects usually occur when cocaine is taken frequently and not just once.

So, relax and do not worry about it!

Besides, all your cardiac performed tests have excluded any possible cardiac disorder that could be related to this episode.

So, definitely there is nothing to worry! So, try not to think about it!

If you have any other questions, I would be happy to answer!

Best wishes,

Dr. Iliri





Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ilir Sharka (22 minutes later)
So if i took the cocaine before the tests this should be excluded ? What if it was taking after the tests bit just a small amount could this cause damage after the tests ? Thanks im worried about this now that a small amount of it has damaged my heart or from past use at party
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
My answer as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hi again!

I understand your concern and would explain that it is not a matter of small amounts of cocaine taken casually in rare cases.

Usually big amounts are needs to cause acute complications such as cardiac arrhythmia or acute coronary events.

From the other hand the chronic use of cocaine, regularly and frequently could lead to chronic irreversible changes in the heart and blood vessels.

But this is not your case. You have nothing to worry about!

Anyway, I would recommended avoiding it in the future as it can exacerbate your anxiety and also avoid possible complications related to its use.

But for the moment there is nothing to worry about!

Hope you will find this answer helpful!

Regards,

Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ilir Sharka (14 minutes later)
Hi thanks for helping me so i took only a small amount on the 2nd of july and had my heart tests the 25th of july ? Would these of picked this up ? Im scared incase they missed something and theres something wrong with my heart or body as my nails are this colour i will atach a picture of them .. Also what about heart failure as ive read this could cause the nail changed what tests would rule heart failure out? Im also scared incase the cocaine had something else in it thats damaged my heart could this cause problems or that few months later ? Im so scared of these nails and ive been getting that sharp chest pain again its like electric shocks and im having hot flush up my upper body what could cause this? Im fearing somethings seriously wrong with me and scared incase anything happens
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (10 hours later)
Brief Answer:
My opinion:

Detailed Answer:
Hello again!

Thank you for the photo! I carefully reviewed your uploaded photo and would explain that it indicates Raynauds syndrome.

As I have explained it before, this syndrome is not really indicating a serious underlying heart condition.

It indicates a vessel dysfunction in this region, causing a low blood supply to your fingers.

This could be related to an inflammatory disorder, an autoimmune connective tissue disorder, etc..

For this reason, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician and performing the above mentioned tests (PCR, sedimentation rate, a Doppler ultrasound of the cervical vessels, etc.).

Have you measured your blood pressure recently? I would also recommend measuring your blood pressure frequently during the day to exclude possible high blood pressure.

Regarding cocaine intake, such small amount is not concerning regarding your heart. As all your heart tests have resulted normal, there is nothing to worry about.

But, as I explained it can cause vessel dysfunction and trigger Raynaud's phenomena. That is why I would not recommend using it any more.

You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.

If your blood pressure values are high during the day further tests may be needed to investigate for the possible underlying causes.

Anyway, there is nothing to worry about any heart attack. Your symptoms are not concerning for such disorder. So relax and try not to think about it any more!

Let me know about everything!

You can ask me directly at any time by following the link below:

http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=69765

Best wishes,

Dr. Iliri


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ilir Sharka (1 hour later)
Ok what is cervical doppler is that the neck? Because the left side of my neck feels strange .. Could this be anything serious like a blood clot causing the dicolouration? And could that cause a stroke? Ive not to get my bloods until monday can i wait till then or will anything happen? No i wont touch it again .. Im really worried about ny health i keep thinking the nails are something sinister is it an emergency or can i wait? Ive also to see a physio today for the pain ive been getting im so worried now will it ever go away i think my blood pressure is always normal or more low if its high what does this mean aswell ? Im honestly scared incase something happens to me ! Thanks for ur help can i speak to u directly on that?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Your symptoms do not indicate anything serious!

So relax and don't worry about this! There is no need to go to the ER, because nothing bad is going to happen.

A cervical Doppler of the neck vessels, is a type of ultrasound which examines the blood flow to the arteries of this region, investigating for possible low blood flow or vessel narrowing.

The pain of the neck is not really related to the blood vessels, as the blood vessels have no sensory receptors for the pain. The pain is related to the muscles, bones and ligaments and nerves of this region. But they do not indicate any serious medical condition.

Low blood pressure is not concerning about any serious condition. So relax! Nothing serious seems to be going on! Everything will be OK! Just follow my advice and discuss with your doctor on the above tests.

Hope you will find this answer helpful!

You can ask me directly at any time on my personal link (above mentioned).

I would be happy to answer to all of your questions!

Wishing all the best,

Dr. Iliri

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Ilir Sharka

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 9536 Questions

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What Do The Following ECHO And Stress Test Reports Indicate?

Brief Answer: I would explain as follows: Detailed Answer: Hello! Welcome back again on HCM! Regarding your concern, I would explain that cocaine is a stimulant of the central nervous system, causing a rush of adrenaline and noradrenaline in your blood after taking it. In the first hours after taking cocaine, vessel constriction and tachycardia occur, due to sympathetic nervous system activation. These effects can lead to increased heart rate, tachycardia and even cardiac arrhythmia or heart attack (acute coronary event). Other effects of cocaine are high blood pressure, increase of body temperature, muscle cramps, increased frequency in breathing and anxiety. Other neurological disorders like stroke can also occur, especially in high doses. These effects usually go away after some hours. But the chronic use of cocaine can cause irreversible changes in blood vessels and the heart, leading to chronic hypertension, cardiac conduction disorders and even cardiac hypertrophy. But, these effects usually occur when cocaine is taken frequently and not just once. So, relax and do not worry about it! Besides, all your cardiac performed tests have excluded any possible cardiac disorder that could be related to this episode. So, definitely there is nothing to worry! So, try not to think about it! If you have any other questions, I would be happy to answer! Best wishes, Dr. Iliri