When you eat something that's contaminated with bacteria, viruses, toxins or parasites, you can develop food poisoning that may affect every organ in your body. Most commonly, you'll recover quickly from a bout of food poisoning, but you could experience significant consequences that can affect your heart if not properly treated. See your doctor if you suspect you have food poisoning to avoid serious side effects.
Symptoms
For the most common types of food poisoning, you'll most likely develop symptoms within about 2 to 4 hours of ingesting the toxic substance. Diarrhea that may be bloody is a common symptom of food poisoning. Other symptoms may include a headache, abdominal cramping, vomiting and nausea. You may develop a fever and become weak. Mushroom poisoning can lead to kidney failure and heart muscle difficulties that could lead to death.
Side Effects
Your heart also may undergo serious side effects if you develop food poisoning from eating fish. Ciguatera is a specific type of toxin you can get from eating mackerel, snapper, grouper and barracuda, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Your blood pressure can drop drastically and your heart begin to slow down with this type of food poisoning. Other symptoms could include numbness around your mouth, joint and muscle pain and changes in touch sensation where hot feels cold and vice versa.
Risks
If you have a heart problem or other disease, you may be at a higher risk of developing food poisoning. A weakened immune system, sickle cell anemia, diabetes or liver disease also may leave you more vulnerable to harmful toxins in food. The elderly are more at risk for developing food-borne illnesses, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, because your body cannot fight off parasites and infections as quickly as when you were younger. If you are taking medications such as steroids, antihistamines or antibiotics you also may be at a higher risk of developing food poisoning.
Complications
About half the people who get food poisoning after eating pufferfish or mushrooms die, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Botulism claims about 10 percent of its victims. While most people recover within a week, respiratory complications that last for weeks or months are not uncommon. If your heart muscle remains weak after a bout of botulism poisoning, you may be hospitalized for an extended period of time, possibly up to 10 months. Salmonella poisoning can leave you with persistent inflammation of your heart lining. E coli infections can lead to ongoing kidney problems and blood disorders.
