This article explores the various fentanyl heart problems that can arise from its use, including issues related to heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen deprivation, artery damage, and heart weakness.

Understanding these risks is crucial for both users and healthcare providers to manage and mitigate potential complications.

By shedding light on these dangers, we hope to encourage individuals to seek help rather than continue using fentanyl, promoting better health outcomes and recovery.

Play Video

Fentanyl and Its Impact on Heart Health

Fentanyl’s impact on the cardiovascular system can be extremely severe, potentially leading to various heart problems.

Since it binds to receptors in the heart and blood vessels, changes in these systems could be huge.

It’s important that you understand how fentanyl interacts with the cardiovascular system so you make decisions and take precautionary measures to keep your heart safe.

How Fentanyl Affects the Heart

Fentanyl can have profound effects on the heart, from changes in heart rate to blood pressure changes, possibly leading to the production of arrhythmias—irregular heartbeats that, if not kept in check, can be dangerous.

These may all contribute additional stress to the heart and long-term cardiovascular risks.

These effects should be known for treatment and reducing possible heart-related complications of the use of fentanyl.

Fentanyl tends to have a large impact on heart rate, often causing bradycardia, which is a condition of abnormally slow heartbeat. This can be dangerous because it decreases the heart’s efficiency in the circulation of blood, leading to dizziness, fatigue, and fainting. In some cases, fentanyl may provoke arrhythmias when heartbeats occur irregularly. Such conditions are worse in cardiac functioning. Heartbeats are monitored during the use of fentanyl to avoid severe cardiac complications.¹

Fentanyl use can cause blood pressure changes, typically hypotension. This will make a user dizzy, have blurred vision, and even faint from lack of blood flow to the brain. Severe hypotension can cause shock, a life-threatening state for which prompt medical intervention needs to be called upon. Blood pressure should be continuously monitored by a user of fentanyl in order to manage such risks and decrease them.

One of the critical cardiovascular risks associated with fentanyl is oxygen deprivation, known as hypoxia. Fentanyl can suppress respiration, leading to insufficient oxygen levels in the blood, and hence severely impact heart and brain functioning. Since oxygen deprivation can be rather prolonged, it causes irreversible damage to vital organs and increases the risk of cardiac arrest. Proper oxygenation and respiratory support are essential for patients under fentanyl treatment.

Long-term use of fentanyl can lead to damaging the arteries, which further may result in atherosclerosis, a condition whereby the arteries get clogged up with fatty deposits. Restricted blood flow caused by this results in an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. Fentanyl-mediated arterial damage further exacerbates other cardiovascular conditions and needs to be managed proactively with necessary alterations in lifestyle. Fentanyl users should have regular cardiovascular checkups for detecting and treating at an early stage the problems associated with the arteries.

Continuous use of fentanyl can weak the heart muscle, leading to a reduction in the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively. This condition is referred to as cardiomyopathy. This can lead to heart failure, a condition whereby the heart cannot effectively meet the demand for blood and oxygen needed by the body. Some of the major symptoms that characterize heart weakness include catching breath, swelling of the legs, and continued tiredness. Early detection and intervention of Fentanyl-induced heart weakness are critical in enabling improved long-term cardiac health.

Cardiovascular Risks and Complications Associated with Fentanyl Use

Fentanyl use is linked to serious cardiovascular risks.

Over time, it can lead to various heart-related issues, some of which may be permanent.

Fentanyl affects the cardiovascular system by altering normal heart activity, blood pressure, blood flow, and overall cardiac health, increasing the risk of cardiovascular problems.

This information is important for individuals using fentanyl and their loved ones, as it can help them make informed decisions about their health and treatment.²

Quick Tip

Manage Fentanyl Heart Problems

Heart risk management with fentanyl use will involve a multi-faceted approach, including:

Follow up with a healthcare provider regularly to evaluate your heart health
Engaging in a heart-healthy lifestyle characterized by good food and sufficient exercise
Limiting or discontinuing the use of fentanyl under medical supervision
Entering addiction treatment if addicted to the use of fentanyl
Taking medications as prescribed to treat conditions of the heart

Long-term Cardiovascular Complications

The chronic use of fentanyl can result in long-term heart problems.

These include coronary artery disease, which involves plaque building up inside the blood vessels of the heart, and cardiomyopathy, in which the heart muscle becomes weakened and has trouble effectively pumping blood.

These conditions can significantly lower the quality of life and increase the risk of heart failure.

One potential long-term consequence of using fentanyl is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).³CAD can cause the arteries that supply blood to the heart to narrow or become blocked due to the buildup of plaque, which is a combination of fat, cholesterol, and other substances. This narrowing or blockage reduces blood flow to the heart muscle, which can result in symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and heart attacks. These risks can be minimized through proper management and regular cardiovascular screening.

Long-term use of fentanyl poses a serious risk of heart failure, where the heart is unable to effectively pump blood to meet the body’s needs. Over time, fentanyl can weaken the heart muscle, leading to cardiomyopathy and a further reduction in its functionality. Symptoms of cardiomyopathy include fatigue, swelling in the legs and ankles, and shortness of breath. Heart failure severely limits the quality of life and increases the risk of sudden cardiac death if not properly managed.

Another common and serious complication associated with long-term use of fentanyl is arrhythmias. The severity can range from mild symptoms, such as palpitations or lightheadedness, to more serious outcomes, such as sudden cardiac arrest. Fentanyl has the potential to affect the electrical impulses that regulate your heartbeat, increasing the risk of developing tachycardia (fast heartbeat) and bradycardia (slow heartbeat). It is crucial to monitor and manage arrhythmias to prevent further cardiovascular complications.

Risk of Heart Attack from Fentanyl

It is important to note that using fentanyl can significantly increase the risk of a heart attack. The drug affects the cardiovascular system, making the heart more vulnerable to sudden attacks. Fentanyl can also impact the heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels in the blood, leading to increased stress and the development of blood clots. This can result in a heart attack, especially for individuals with pre-existing heart conditions. It’s important for people who use fentanyl to closely monitor their heart health and consider seeking treatment for addiction.⁴

Frequently Asked Questions

Fentanyl can lead to various heart issues, such as arrhythmias, heart attacks, and chronic heart disease. These problems occur due to the drug’s impact on heart rate, blood pressure, and overall cardiovascular health.

To reduce the risk of fentanyl-related heart problems, it is important to decrease fentanyl usage, seek medical assistance for addiction, and adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle. Regular check-ups with a healthcare provider are also crucial.

Warning signs of a fentanyl-induced heart attack include chest pain, difficulty breathing, lightheadedness, and profuse sweating. If any of these symptoms occur, seek immediate medical attention.

Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack is crucial, especially for individuals using fentanyl, as early intervention can often save lives:

Chest pain or discomfort, often described as pressure, tightness, or squeezing
Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, shoulders, back, neck, jaw, or stomach
Shortness of breath
Cold sweat
Nausea or vomiting
Lightheadedness or dizziness
Fatigue
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Anxiety or a feeling of impending doom

Fentanyl-Related Heart Risk Management

Heart risk from fentanyl is managed by lifestyle changes and medical intervention.

Keeping a heart-healthy diet filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, along with the regular exercise of brisk walking or cycling at least 30 minutes most days of the week, will strengthen the heart and improve circulation.

Quitting smoking is crucial because it damages blood vessels and increases blood pressure, which increases risks on the heart.

Regular medical checkups need to be observed for cardiovascular health in attempts to detect complications in early stages and to try and manage already existing conditions.

All these strategies combined bring a significant reduction in the serious risks of cardiac complications that result from the use of fentanyl.

Get Help for Substance Abuse at Cornerstone

We offer a wide range of treatment for mental health and substance abuse conditions. Begin your journey to recovery today!

Take the Next Steps Towards Heart Health

Fentanyl heart problems present serious health risks, including altered heart rate, blood pressure issues, oxygen deprivation, artery damage, and heart weakness.

These risks can only be dealt with by a proper combination of healthy lifestyle choices and professional medical care.

Fentanyl addiction needs comprehensive treatment, therapy, medication management, and follow-up to help in containing the addiction and keeping the cardiovascular system safe.

Seeking professional help can provide the necessary support and resources to navigate recovery and improve overall well-being.

Take the first step toward recovery and better heart health—ask for professional help today.

Key Takeaways

Fentanyl has a strong impact on heart health, leading to serious cardiovascular risks.
It is important for users and their families to understand the physiological effects that fentanyl causes in the heart.
The potential risk of experiencing a heart attack stands a bit high in those using fentanyl.
Keeping off heart risks is through lifestyle adjustments and medical aid.
Regular check-ups with a doctor are very vital in case one is a user of fentanyl to monitor the conditions of the heart.

Share this Article

Sources

Author & Reviewers

Susana Spiegel

RECOVERY WRITER & ADVOCATE

Susana is a recovery writer and advocate with over 8 years in addiction recovery. She is passionate about sharing accurate and helpful information about mental health, addiction, and recovery. She holds a Bachelor’s in Christian Studies from Grand Canyon University and has over 7 years of working in the addiction field.

LIONEL ESTRADA

CLINICAL DIRECTOR & REVIEWER

Lionel is the Clinical Director of Cornerstone’s Scottsdale treatment facilities. He has had over 4 years at Cornerstone. He is personally in recovery and passionate about helping others overcome substance abuse and mental health challenges; he is trained as an EMDR, adopting a trauma-informed approach to treat the underlying issues.

July 28, 2024

Fentanyl Heart Problems: Unveiling Cardiovascular Risks

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Fayz Yar Khan, MD FACP

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Contributors & Editors

Kirsten Andersen

Updates

Let us help you start your journey to recovery.

Category

Tags

Related Resources

Understanding Fentanyl Heart Problems