Crack cocaine is an illegal, highly addictive stimulant drug. This form of cocaine is supplied as a rock crystal that is heated in order to release crack cocaine vapors that users smoke, explains the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). This illicit drug can cause a number of effects on the body, some of which can prove life threatening.
Increased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
After inhaling crack cocaine vapors, you can experience a rapid increase in your heart rate and blood pressure, warn health officials at the Better Health Channel, an informational health website established by the Australian government. This illegal drug stimulates the normal actions of your central nervous system and can cause you to feel usually energetic, anxious or restless. Heart-related effects on the body due to crack cocaine use can cause sensations of euphoria, dizziness or headache. You can also develop a significant decrease in your appetite and may experience significant weight loss with recurrent use of crack cocaine. Elevations in your heart rate and blood pressure can increase your risk of experiencing a heart attack or muscle convulsions because of using crack cocaine.
Elevated Body Temperature
Using crack cocaine can lead to an elevation in your body temperature, warn NIDA health officials. This effect of crack cocaine on the body can occur immediately after using this drug and may last for up to 15 to 30 minutes. Frequent use of crack cocaine can raise your risk of developing dehydration caused by increased fluid loss due to a high body temperature. Symptoms of dehydration due to crack cocaine use can include dizziness, headache, stomach upset or fainting. An elevated body temperature may also occur in conjunction with sweating, chills or a rapid heartbeat. You can also notice that your skin appears flushed (red) or feels warm to the touch.
Dilated Pupils
Inhalation of crack cocaine vapors can cause your pupils--the black region of your eyes--to become extremely dilated (large), explains the Better Health Channel. Dilated pupils can increase your sensitivity to light and may cause you to experience blurred or cloudy vision. This effect of crack cocaine on the body typically occurs in conjunction with heart rate irregularities or increased body temperature.
