With the recent concerns about COVID-19, individuals are taking a closer look at their health. Addiction and your physical health are very closely linked. Those with addiction often have health problems. The drugs themselves can cause health problems. The lifestyle of addiction can also lead to health problems because it causes you to neglect self-care and engage in high-risk behaviors. If you want to get treatment for your addiction, contact Golden Peaks Recovery today.
Links Between Addiction and Your Physical Health
When you consider the relationship between addiction and your physical health, the impact of the drug itself likely comes to mind. Each class of drugs has its own set of health risks.
- Alcohol: high blood pressure, stroke, digestive problems
- Stimulants: heart arrhythmia, increased temperature, high blood pressure, organ failure
- Opiates: weakened immune system, decreased breathing, coma
- Benzodiazepines: sleep apnea, low blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias
These are just a few of the adverse health effects associated with addiction. Each class of drugs also carries the risk of fatal overdose and painful withdrawal symptoms. However, many often overlook other aspects of addiction and your physical health.
Route of Administration
In addition to the impact of the drug on your system, the method you use to take the substance can have a negative effect as well. Injecting, smoking, and snorting are common routes of administration. Each of these carries its own effects on addiction and your physical health.
IV Use
IV drug use, or injecting drugs, has its own set of health risks. Moreover, IV drug users are at a much higher risk of contracting HIV and Hepatitis C. They also have a higher chance of getting an infection at the injection site or heart valves. These conditions can have a lifelong impact or even be fatal. Injecting a drug also carries an increased risk of addiction and overdose because it goes directly into your bloodstream.
Smoking
Smoking any substance is considered bad for your health. In terms of addiction, smoking is nearly as addictive as injecting a drug. When you inhale the smoke, it goes to your lungs, where it quickly enters your bloodstream. Effects are almost immediate, creating an intense euphoric high and a strong association between the euphoria and the act of smoking the drug.
Smoking drugs can damage your lungs and lead to chronic respiratory infections. It can also increase your risk of heart problems and asthma. It increases your risk of eye problems and cancer of the mouth, esophagus, and lungs.
Snorting
Snorting is considered less addictive than smoking or injecting the drug. However, there are still severe impacts on addiction and your physical health. When you snort a drug, it takes it about five to ten minutes before it enters your bloodstream, giving it a much faster onset than ingesting the drug, but not as quick as smoking or injecting.
Snorting drugs can cause respiratory damage and an increased risk of catching respiratory infections. Nosebleeds due to damaged nasal tissues, runny nose, and throat problems are also frequent.
Poor Lifestyle Habits
Another link between addiction and your physical health is your lifestyle habits. When you become addicted to a drug, getting more of it becomes the top priority. Malnutrition, insomnia, and poor grooming habits are commonly associated with drug use. Your brain’s decision-making ability is also impaired. This impairment makes you more likely to engage in risky behaviors, including driving while impaired and unprotected sex.
All of these things put you at a higher risk of disease or physical injury. Malnutrition and insomnia weaken your immune system. Poor hygiene makes you less likely to wash your hands, which increases your risk of catching an infection.
Time to Get Treatment
If you are concerned about addiction and your physical health, you should seek treatment today. Anyone with health problems or a weakened immune system is more likely to contract COVID-19 and more likely to have serious complications, which can be fatal. Now is the right time to consider your health and get the treatment that you need. To learn more about the connection between addiction and physical health, contact Golden Peak Recovery at 855.814.9173.
