Cocaine Effects - How Cocaine Can Affect You

Cocaine is an extremely powerful drug and is classed as Class A drug. The cocaine effects can differ from person to person - just like anything, cocaine will react differently in different people - but there are some consequences that are the same and it is important to split the cocaine effects into the long term and short term ones.

The Short Term Effects of Cocaine Use

The first time anyone tries this drug, they are likely to find that their energy levels have increased and their heart rate goes up. This is normal because the drug is a stimulant and works in similar ways to other stimulant drugs, like LSD and even caffeine.

The blood pressure also increases, which will lead to some medical problems. For example, the blood vessels constrict, which makes it harder for the blood to pump around the body. Considering the heart rate increases, this can lead to stroke or a heart attack, which can lead to death.

The cocaine effects on the brain are also important to touch on. This drug affects the brain from the first time that it is taken. A person will feel more alert and full of energy, but will find that appetite is decreased. This increase in energy is often the reason why people become addicted to the drug. They like the feeling of the cocaine effects and want to feel that again.

The suppression of the appetite is extremely alluring for some people, especially those who want to lose weight or keep their weight low. It means that less food is eaten and so more calories are burned from the body. However, this is extremely dangerous as the drug has been known to cause people to not eat for days on end and it can lead to severe problems with the stomach, intestines, kidney and other organs.

The Long Term Effects of Cocaine Use

While the short term effects of cocaine use highlight some of the danger, the majority of it is found when looking at the long term effects. This is a drug that is extremely addictive but does lead to a number of heart and brain problems. With the increased heart rate, more blood is pumping around the body. However, the vessels constrict which makes the passing of the blood much harder. This often leads to problems such as heart disease or heart attacks.

The cocaine effects on the brain are just as dangerous. Due to the blood levels but difficulty in passing around the body - among other things - users are more at risk of strokes or seizures. At first, users may find that the effects just lead to hallucinations, which are often seen as funny or entertaining; however, these hallucinations can lead to paranoia and panic attacks. The stoke and seizures can also cause other problems like muscle spasms, paralysis and even put users into a coma. And, of course, death is on that list.