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Heart Disease In The News Cocaine use accounts for many heart attacks in the
young A new study suggests that up to 25% of heart attacks occurring in people younger than 45 years of age may be due to regular cocaine use instead of typical coronary artery disease. Cocaine is known to constrict blood vessels and to increase the "stickiness" of platelets, and by these mechanisms can cause blood vessels to occlude, and heart attacks to occur. This study, published in the January Circulation, suggests that drug education might be a new tact for reducing the growing incidence of heart attacks in younger individuals. Take our poll: Should doctors tell patients of the potential health benefits of alcohol? |
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