There are many correlations between addiction and your physical health. Put simply, addiction is not good for your physical health. When your physical health is poor, it puts you at higher risk for catching viruses, like COVID-19, and getting infections. Once the virus is in your body, it will be harder to fight it off if the body is unhealthy. Sometimes it is the risky behaviors that come with addiction that put one at risk. Other times it is the method of getting the drugs into the body, and certainly the damage that drugs and alcohol do to the organs and cells of the body.
There are steps you can take to improve your health. Reach out to the Florida detox center to help addiction and your physical health.
The Role Drugs Play in Addiction and Your Physical Health
Marijuana Abuse
Marijuana and cigarettes can cause damage to the lungs. Users will often develop chronic coughs, bronchitis, emphysema, and be more susceptible to inflammation in the lungs and infections. Colds, the flu, and other viruses, such as COVID-19, can lead to pneumonia more often in individuals who smoke.
Cocaine Addiction
Cocaine and meth, which are stimulants, can cause damage to the heart. Users often develop irregular heartbeats, blood clots, and suffer from a heart attack.
Heroin Addiction
Heroin users are likely to suffer from health problems. If the drug is injected, the injection site leaves the body open to severe infection. If sharing needles, diseases can be shared. Pathogens can be introduced in the body that can make the user sick.
Heroin addiction is extremely dangerous. Please seek help from a heroin detox program if you or a loved one abuses heroin.
Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol users end up with a long list of health problems. In the short term, drinking alcohol causes dehydration. Weight gain is another unhealthy side effect. Others include liver failure, high blood pressure, and cardiac arrest. Alcohol also negatively affects inflammatory compounds. These stun harmful bacteria when it comes into the body. T cells and B cells are also reduced because of alcohol consumption. These cells are very important in fighting disease.
Opioid Use
Opioids have long been in the spotlight for suppressing the immune system. Even when people are using them under the direction of a doctor, they are at risk. The use of opioids leads to a reduced response from the immune system. This makes it more difficult for the body to quickly and efficiently fight off viruses and infection.
Not Only Drugs But Risky Behaviors Affect Physical Health
In times like these, when we are asked to practice social distancing and stay home, a trip to the liquor store or to meet up with a supplier can put one at risk for COVID-19. Many drugs also cause depression, which can run rampant when we are asked to spend more time by ourselves. Others, who have suffered a sudden job loss and are short on money, may go to scary extremes to try to meet their need for drugs. Anxiety is another issue that can be exacerbated by drug use.
Not only should you worry about addiction and your physical health, but the physical health of loved ones and those around you. If your behaviors put you at risk for contracting COVID-19, it also puts loved ones at risk. You could spread the disease to others, damage the lungs of your family members with secondhand smoke, or put someone at risk of being in an accident if you have them come with you to get more drugs.
What to do About Addiction and Your Physical Health
The best thing an addict can do to mend their physical health is to seek treatment. Once you contact Tides Edge Detox and begin detox to become sober, the body can begin to heal. As the body heals, it will be healthier and ready to better fight off illness and virus. As mental health improves, risky behaviors will decrease, relationships can be mended, and life can go on.
Call 866.723.3127 today to learn about specialized detox programs and substance abuse treatment.
