April 20, 2016 - 3:31 AM
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Health officials in eastern Newfoundland say they're seeing a spike in cocaine-related heart attacks in people under the age of 35.
Cardiologist Sean Connors says staff at Eastern Health have started a study to examine cocaine-related heart attacks in the region.
He says they've noticed more young people showing up in emergency rooms and they want to see how recent cases compare to statistics over the last decade.
Connors says drugs like cocaine increase the heart rate and blood pressure, and also result in severe spasms in the main arteries.
He says they have also been seeing heart infections resulting from IV drug use. (VOCM)
News from © The Canadian Press, 2016