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Health Issues

If you require assistance in locating an addiction treatment, detox program or drug rehab center, call Recovery Connection® now at 1-800-993-3869.

AIDS and HIV

addiction treatment and health issues

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is caused by or the result of the Human Immunodefiency Virus (HIV). The virus, HIV, attacks and destroys certain white blood cells, which are part of the body's immune system which we need to fight off infections.

AIDS is the end stage of the illness and occurs when the majority of white blood cells have been destroyed and the immune system, can no longer function to fight off infection. There are medications to manage the infections, as there are drugs to slow the growth of HIV. While a person can appear healthy for quite some time and new treatments are being developed every year, there is no cure and in many cases the illness is fatal.

HIV is spread through the transmission of body fluids such as semen, blood or vaginal secretions. The fluid can be transferred through broken skin, mucous membranes, sexual contact where one member penetrates the other or through surgery or injection. Expecting mothers should know that they can spread HIV to their babies while pregnant, as well as, through breast feeding. It is important to understand that the use of drugs and alcohol tends to promote several behaviors; promiscuous and unprotected sex, the sharing of needles or the use of un-sterilized needles to inject various drugs. These are a few of the reasons so many addicts and alcoholics become HIV positive.

Please keep in mind, that someone can not get HIV through casual contact, sharing a meal, holding hands or even hugging. We bring this to your attention to alleviate any fears a person may have and to provide you with accurate information regarding the illness. Prevention, education, drug and alcohol abstinence and the practice of safe sex are the keys to remaining abstinent of HIV.

Testing positive for HIV can be a very scary and stressful time for someone. They generally experience feelings of anger, fear and confusion. Many go through denial, guilt and depression. As a result of these intense feelings, many people have been known to turn to drugs or alcohol as a means to "numb out" or avoid dealing with the situation. Decisions such as these can and many times do, result in addiction or alcoholism, which can further reduce the effectiveness of the person's immune system. In addition to a person's immune system being compromised by addiction, many people addicted to drugs or alcohol are not consistent with taking their HIV medication further compromising their chances of achieving a quality recovery.

Nutritional deficiencies and infections that are the result of AIDS have been known to cause problems in the brain's ability to function. Doctor's refer to this condition as AIDS Dementia Complex. Some symptoms of this may include:

HIV and AIDS are treatable conditions. There are breakthroughs with encouraging results all the time. If you are engaging in high risk behavior, make sure you get tested. If you have tested positive or feel you might be ill, see your physician immediately.

If you find yourself addicted to drugs or alcohol in addition to having battle this illness, please call Recovery Connection® at 1-800-993-3869 and we will assist you in locating an addiction treatment center that specializes in substance abuse treatment and the HIV positive person. Don't let the shame, fear or self pity keep you from going after recovery. There are thousands upon thousands of people clean and sober living with HIV and AIDS. Let yourself be one of them!

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Cirrhosis of the Liver

Cirrhosis is a potentially life threatening condition that occurs when scarring damages the liver. The scarring, also called fibrosis, replaces healthy tissue and prevents the liver from functioning properly. It has been found that cirrhosis usually develops after years of liver inflammation.

Research has shown that two of the major cause of cirrhosis of the liver is the consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol over the course of many years (alcoholism) or certain forms of viral hepatitis usually Hepatitis B or C. It is not coincidental that many of the people infected with Hepatitis C virus are individuals addicted to intravenous drug use.

As cirrhosis continues to develop, scar tissue surrounds the normal liver cells, making the tissue bumpy or nodular. This bumpy liver tissue tends to block the bile ducts causing them to swell, which results in the bile backing up into the liver and bloodstream.

Scar tissue also may block blood flow into the liver. Lack of blood flow, can cause the veins that bring blood to the liver to become larger and can lead to high blood pressure in the veins that flow from the liver to the intestines (portal hypertension).

Many people with cirrhosis show no symptoms in early stages, but as the liver begins to fail the following symptoms can present themselves:

For a person suffering from cirrhosis and drinking alcohol, the only hope of successfully treating the liver lies in the individual refraining from anymore alcohol consumption. If the person has become alcoholic or is drinking to the point of abusing alcohol, giving up drinking may prove extremely difficult. For some it may be due to the cravings they experience trying to achieve abstinence, while others may experience symptoms associated with withdrawal. In either case, admission to a alcohol detox program may prove beneficial.

If you require assistance in locating an addiction treatment, detox program or drug rehab center, call Recovery Connection® now at 1-800-993-3869.

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Heart Attack and Stroke

What are the effects of cocaine, crack and stimulants on the heart?

Cocaine and crack are short-acting, powerful stimulants that act directly on the heart muscle, brain, blood vessels, and nerve tissue to cause effects that are felt almost immediately. These drugs increase the heart rate and blood pressure, sometimes to dangerous levels and in some people can cause irregular heart beats that can lead to cardiac arrest.

Some of the cardiovascular symptoms of cocaine and stimulant abuse a person might experience are the sensation of rapid or irregular heartbeats (palpitations) and a sudden increase in blood pressure putting a severe strain on the arteries. In this case, if a weakness is present in the wall of an artery, a rupture may occur which, depending on the location of the artery, could cause a stroke or even death.

Users of cocaine, crack and crystal meth often complain of chest pain. This could be due to spasm and narrowing of the heart arteries. This reduces the amount of blood that can flow through them, which could result in a heart attack.

One of the other aspects of cocaine, crack, and crystal meth addiction is that many of the individuals abusing these drugs are also smoking cigarettes. It is a well known fact that cigarettes (nicotine addiction) can lead to cardiovascular problems. When you put these two risk factors together, it is easy to see the incredible strain that is placed on the heart, arteries and surrounding organs. This strain can lead and in many cases does lead, to heart attack and stroke.

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