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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Pressure In The Upper Chest After Injecting Methamphetamine?

Ive smoked meth for a couple years. Ive been injecting it now for the past 6 months. My heart rate is 185 bpm. Only when im using. I have pressure and a burning sensation where my left peck is on my upper chest. Also a pain in the middle of my chest near my back. My sister said its anxiety. Which can have the same symptoms and be confused with a heart attack. But this pressure happens around my heart and chest when I inject but now starting when I smoke or snort it too. The sharp sudden quick pains near my heart worry me. Am I having a heart attack?
Wed, 14 Dec 2016
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hello,

I understand your concern. In order to get a clear idea about your symptoms, you have to understand that methamphetamine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it narrows the bloods vessels. What you have been experiencing, chest tightness and pressure, is your heart's blood vessels being constricted and thus starving your heart of oxygen. This is exactly what happens in a heart attack. The coronary arteries (the vessels responsible of nourishing your heart with oxygen and nutrients) narrow and the heart muscle is deprived, leading to decreased function and ultimately no function at all, i.e. death. So, yes, your symptoms were your heart trying to send you a message that you are starving it. Next time there probably be no warning. So please make sure you stop taking meth before it is too late. There is plenty of help available if you want to. Drug helplines and rehab clinics are everywhere, you just have to want it.
Wishing you all the best
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What Causes Pressure In The Upper Chest After Injecting Methamphetamine?

Hello, I understand your concern. In order to get a clear idea about your symptoms, you have to understand that methamphetamine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it narrows the bloods vessels. What you have been experiencing, chest tightness and pressure, is your heart s blood vessels being constricted and thus starving your heart of oxygen. This is exactly what happens in a heart attack. The coronary arteries (the vessels responsible of nourishing your heart with oxygen and nutrients) narrow and the heart muscle is deprived, leading to decreased function and ultimately no function at all, i.e. death. So, yes, your symptoms were your heart trying to send you a message that you are starving it. Next time there probably be no warning. So please make sure you stop taking meth before it is too late. There is plenty of help available if you want to. Drug helplines and rehab clinics are everywhere, you just have to want it. Wishing you all the best