List of Drug Induced Circulatory Diseases

Your circulatory system, also referred to as the cardiovascular system, is composed of a network of millions of blood vessels that deliver blood to every cell and organ via arteries, while veins carry it back to the heart. If anything goes wrong with this system, various life-threatening complications may develop. Genetics, diet and lifestyle play a role in assessing your risk. However, it's also possible to acquire drug induced circulatory diseases.

Arrhythmia

• Arrhythmia is characterized by an irregular heartbeat, either in terms of the pace, regularity or the origin of the electrical impulse that initiates each beat of your heart. The latter is particularly significant since it pertains to the electrical wiring of your heart, the functioning of which is measured by what's known as the QT interval. This is the amount of time that elapses between the start of the heart's Q wave representing ventricular depolarization and the end of its T wave, or ventricular repolarization. A prolonged QT interval is associated with an increased risk for ventricular fibrillation and sudden death. A number of drugs may contribute to a prolonged QT interval, including antiarrhythmic agents, tricyclic antidepressants and antihistamines.

High Blood Pressure

• If you've been told that you high blood pressure, or hypertension, you should clarify with your physician if your condition is primary or secondary. It matters because primary, or essential hypertension, develops slowly over many years and is most likely due to genetic factors. In contrast, secondary hypertension tends to come on suddenly and produce higher readings. Secondary hypertension is also one of the circulatory diseases that can be drug induced, most often caused by taking birth control pills, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids and over-the-counter cold remedies, such as decongestants.

Myocardial Ischaemia

• Myocardial Ischaemia, also called ischemic heart disease, is characterized by impaired vasodilation. Basically, this means that the heart isn't receiving enough blood, which equates to insufficient oxygen as well. Certain medications can precipitate this condition in different ways. For instance, all calcium channel blockers affect vasodilation, which is why they're used to treat angina and hypertension. However, some short-acting calcium channel blockers increase the occurrence of tachycardia, a type of arrhythmia that promotes the depletion of oxygen due to an accelerated heart rate. A similar effect is often seen upon the withdrawal of short-acting beta-blockers, an event known as rebound hypertension that can also cause tachycardia. Other drugs that may increase the risk of myocardial ischaemia include beta-agonists and amphetamines.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

• This circulatory disorder develops when a thrombus, or blot clot, forms in a vein, usually in the legs. There are a number of related secondary conditions, most notably pulmonary embolism. A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot breaks away from its source and migrates to the lungs where it can block off an artery. These drug induced circulatory diseases are frequently attributed to hormone replacement therapy agents and birth control pills.