Amphetamines may impair the body's main artery

These drugs impede the beating of the heart and may increase blood pressure, which means that in areas where abuse of amphetamine is more common, there are major consequences for public health.
Young adults who abuse amphetamines may be more likely to suffer an injury often lethal in the main artery of the body, called the aorta, U.S. researchers report.
A study of the medical records of 31 million people aged 18 to 49 years hospitalized between 1995 and 2007 revealed that those who had abused amphetamine were three times as likely to have what is called an aortic dissection, said the team University of Texas.
There is widespread abuse of amphetamine, although the substance is used legitimately to treat attention deficit disorder, narcolepsy and other sleep disorders. They can also help in weight loss.

Amphetamines and the main artery

Drugs difficult heartbeat and can increase blood pressure. Researchers previously found that could increase the risk of heart attack and some suspected that drug abuse can also cause lesions in the aorta.
In an article published in American Heart Journal, Dr. Arthur Westover and his colleagues said they also reviewed the medical records of more than 49 million people over 50 years during the same period.

"We found that the frequency of aortic dissection is increasing among young adults, but not in older children," Westover said in a statement. "It is unclear why," he added.
"When looking for a possible cause, doctors should monitor amphetamine abuse in young people with aortic dissection," said the expert.
The records of patients from California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington state showed three times more cases of aortic dissection related to amphetamine abuse among young adults. These states also have higher average rates of abuse of the drug, said Westover."This shows that in areas where amphetamine abuse is more common, there are major public health consequences," said the researcher.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the illegal consumption of amphetamine and methamphetamine in the United States is getting worse.
In 1992, about 21,000 people admitted to hospitals for treatment for abuse of amphetamine or methamphetamine. In 2004, that number rose to 150,000.