According to new research published in Heart Asia reports that using amphetamines recreationally may accelerate aging of the heart.
Arteries harden as the body ages, and so the researchers aimed to assess the degree of artery stiffening in order to determine how the heart was aging in this population. The participants were in their 30s and 40s and attending a clinic for substance misuse.
The team used a standard blood pressure cuff on the upper arm of participants and a non-invasive monitoring system, called SphygmoCor, on the forearm to gather data.
Findings indicated that compared with the people who smoked and used methadone, the cardiovascular system of the amphetamine users appeared to be aging at a much quicker rate.
As exposure to amphetamine is often repetitive and prolonged, the heart is exposed to the effects of the stimulant on a behavioural, chronic, and long-term basis.
“It is, therefore, conceivable that stimulant abusers do physiological and cardiovascular harm,” says the team. They note that it is not clear to what extent the damage might be reversible.
The authors say that the results confirm their concerns that amphetamine abuse increases heart age. However, as the study is observational, no firm conclusion can be drawn regarding cause and effect.
The aging process suggests a power function over time, as many physiological processes begin to fail over the course of a lifespan progressively. However, the new findings suggest that stimulant abuse may accelerate the degeneration of the physiological systems. The authors write:
“If, as has been demonstrated, the damage from stimulant abuse is actually a power function of time, then this, in turn, implies that the gathering global stimulant epidemic carries a further message of urgency which has largely not been appreciated.”
The team point to other research for a possible explanation for their findings. The research showed that amphetamine use interferes with stem cell functioning and normal cell division. Hence, amphetamines may both impede tissue repair and increase tissue injury, the authors conclude.
Meanwhile, experts have said that eating bitter foods have incredible health benefits.
“Bitter foods and herbs help to stimulate digestive juices and support food digestion. Bitter foods help stimulate our taste receptors on the tongue, which subsequently stimulates enzyme production and bile flow. T
he better your food is digested, the more nutrients you will absorb from your food. It doesn’t matter what you eat, if you can’t absorb it, it won’t be of much benefit
to you.”
In general, bitter greens are packed with nutrients, including vitamins A, C and K and minerals like calcium, potassium and magnesium. They are high in folate and fibber and low in fat and sodium. Arugula, for example, is packed with beta carotene, vitamin C, calcium and iron, while dandelion greens provide vitamins A, E, K, calcium, iron and antioxidants.
“Greens are an important part of healthy eating, although bitter greens require a certain palate.”
They have also recommended washing vegetables carefully in cold water to remove sand and grit and then dry them in a salad spinner or blot to remove excess water. “Eat greens raw or cooked and toss with olive oil for better absorption of the fat soluble vitamins.”
They added, “Bitter greens like radicchio, dandelion greens, endive, kale, and arugula contain phytonutrients that support the liver as it manages cholesterol, balances hormones, detoxifies the blood and metabolises fats.”