What does coke do to your brain

A study conducted by John Hopkins University found that cocaine can cause brain cells to kill themselves. In the study, cocaine triggered neurons to consume themselves from the inside out. Autophagy, the process through which this happens, is usually beneficial, but cocaine distorts it.

But cocaine makes the housekeeper throw away really important things, like mitochondria, which produce energy for a cell. If you use cocaine for a long period of time your brain might have long-term effects which can include:. In addition to understanding the damage cocaine can have on your brain, you should also know that:.

Here at StoneRidge Centers, we believe in combining brain science with compassionate care and clinical support. We know how harmful addiction to cocaine and other substances can be to the brain. We want to help you get there. Reach out to us today at if you or a loved one is struggling with substance use.

Because mental health and addiction concerns are so often interconnected, we utilize research-based approaches with evidence-based outcomes that promote overall healing and recovery. Copper Hill Dr. We exercise progressive, leading brain science in our treatment approach for patients in our community and across the country who are struggling with mental health and addiction challenges.

Cocaine, however, really does kill brain cells. That should worry you. Until recently, scientists thought you were born with all the brain cells you would ever have. We now know you do make new brain cells, but it happens very slowly and mostly in the hippocampus, a part of your brain involved in creating long-term memories. The way this happens is especially alarming; your brain cells eat themselves. Normally, brain cells collect cellular waste and recycle it in a process called autophagy.

Cocaine seems to make this process go crazy and eat everything, including vital organelles like the mitochondria. The cell can no longer function so it dies. Cocaine increases your risk of stroke. Your risk of stroke is about seven times higher in the 24 hours after using cocaine. Cocaine causes your blood vessels to constrict, dramatically increasing your blood pressure and reducing oxygen to the brain. It also causes your heart to beat quickly and sometimes erratically.

Erratic heartbeat increases your risk of forming clots that can lead to a stroke. According to The National Institute on Drug Abuse , short-term effects of cocaine use include: extreme happiness and energy mental alertness hypersensitivity to sight, sound, and touch irritability decreases appetite paranoia—extreme and unreasonable distrust of others Use of cocaine presents dangerous health risks Cocaine use can adversely affect the health of any and all organs, systems, and functions of the body.

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