Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 7/10/2007

Question
Hello, I have question regarding my heart and headaches I've been experience. To give you a brief history about me, towards the end of February i had used cocaine with some friends. That night the cocaine caused my heart to beat at an alarming rate causing me tingling all over my face and body as well as fatigue. I tried keeping my self cool to slow my heart rate however this lasted for about 8 hours until I could fall asleep. After that time things seem to get back to normal or so I thought. Although I immediately stopped any cocaine usage a few weeks later i had to go to E.R. due to rapid heart rate coming back.  I told them about my using cocaine in late Feb. and they said that it was just heart palpitations. A few weeks later another doctor said i had anxiety attacks. I have not had the palpitations in about 4 months however I'm not sure about the anxiety attacks. I have started feeling closer to normal the past month. I'm able to lift heavier items, i can play sports to an extant, and I'm to walk upstairs. However I still don't feel I can do the things I used to physically be able to do. Two days ago I wanted to start getting back into shape by running a mile around the park. By the 2nd lap my hard was beating very quickly which I realize is normal. However along with this sharp beating came pain around the heart area and tightness.  I tried to walk it off thinking i was just out of shape. By the 3rd lap I started to very dizzy and felt like I'd collapse. I walked 3 more laps as I tried to get my heart rate back to normal. Since then I've been getting these uncomfortable feelings in my head. It is similar to when you hang upside down and all the blood rushes to your head. I felt mild light headedness and spaceyness. Although mild, it feels like if it were to get much stronger I'd pass out. It comes and goes throughout the day. I've had this off and on the pass week however it is becoming more frequent. Last time i experience a problem similar to this was when i was playing football and basket ball with my friends. After coming home I had a strong head ache that lasted from 6pm to 4am. Aside from the head aches I've also experience occasional "twitches" and skipped beats. The doctor was also able to hear them when he listen to my heart during my last check up. I've gotten an EKG, an ultra sound of my heart, and I wore an event monitor for 2 weeks. I'm told that the results came back normal for all the tests aside for my testosterone level being on the low side. After hearing this I'm still worried that perhaps using cocaine 5 months ago may have permanently damaged my heart causing these irregular heart beats and headaches...or perhaps cause what appears to be signs of anxiety. I'm sorry for this lengthy post but I'd be grateful for any advice you can give me.

Answer
Hi Paul,


If the doctors cannot find anything wrong it does look like you have anxiety attacks.
This may be caused by a an irregularity in the metabolism of sugars in food into biological energy. This energy is essential n tne production of feel good neuro-transmitters such as serotonin. I do not think that the one use of cocaine is the trouble.

The first step in treatment os going on a hypoglycemic diet.

Please read:

What is Hypoglycemia at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/what_is_hypo.html

The Serotonin Connection at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/serotonin_connection.html

Beating Anxiety and Phobias at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/beating_anxiety.html

_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman BA (Psych) Post Grad Dip Clin Nutr
Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search