Medline Plus states that when a person becomes dependent on either drugs or alcohol, so he feels he needs a particular substance to function or operate, he has a drug addiction. Drug and alcohol dependency typically interfere with physical and mental well-being by increasing susceptibility to certain chronic diseases, such as noncardiac pulmonary edema, HIV, cocaine-induced heart disease, alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
Noncardiac Pulmonary Edema
Cocaine and heroine can cause an adverse drug reaction where noncardiac pulmonary edema develops. Noncardiac pulmonary edema strictly develops from drug use, not heart disease, according to the MayoClinic.com. Noncardiac pulmonary edema is a condition caused by excess fluid in the lungs, from fluid leaking from the capillaries in the lung air sacs.
Noncardiac pulmonary edema causes people to have extreme shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, sometimes with wheezing. People tend to describe it as a feeling of suffocating or drowning. The MayoClinic.com states although pulmonary edema may be fatal, the outlook is good when people receive prompt treatment along with treatment for drug-related problems.
HIV
Use of cocaine or heroin intravenously, via shared needles or syringes, puts individuals at greater risk for developing HIV. HIV, a chronic life-threatening condition, stands for human immunodeficiency virus. People with HIV are unable to fight off viruses, bacteria and fungi that cause disease.
HIV-infected people can remain symptom free for up to nine years, according to MayoClinic.com. However, as the disease progresses, it further weakens the immune system, causing people to develop symptoms. HIV symptoms include weight loss, diarrhea, fever, swollen lymph nodes, cough and shortness of breath.
Cocaine-Induced Heart Disease
Cocaine abuse has a wide array of adverse effects on the body, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Cocaine directly affects the cardiovascular system by constricting blood vessels and increasing heart rate and blood pressure. The American Heart Association states several cardiovascular complications can arise with the use of cocaine, such as chest pain, fatal and nonfatal irregular heartbeats, heart attack and stroke. All cocaine users are in danger of these other potentially fatal complications, even first-time users.
Alcoholic Hepatitis
Alcohol can lead to a serious liver disease known as hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver. Individuals who drink heavily and frequently are more prone to developing alcoholic hepatitis, according to MayoClinic.com. However, researchers say other factors, such as genetics, susceptible to other diseases and malnutrition also play a role in the development of alcoholic hepatitis.
Alcoholic hepatitis typically does not cause noticeable symptoms until the disease becomes more advanced, according to MayoClinic.com. Advanced alcoholic hepatitis may cause the following signs and symptoms: loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, fever and mental confusion.
Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy
Medline Plus states excessive alcohol use has a direct toxic effect on the heart muscle cells. Alcohol causes heart muscle cells to die, and the weakened heart is then unable to pump a sufficient amount of blood to the rest of the body. Damage results to multiple tissues and organ systems due to the lack of blood supply from the heart.
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy symptoms develop slowly over time, according to Medline Plus. However, common symptoms are shortness of breath, swelling of feet and ankles, irregular heartbeat, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite and coughing.
