Cocaine use is highly dangerous and is known for being a harmful substance. The effects of cocaine can cause an array of negative and complicated issues, and snorting cocaine frequently can damage your nose.
Although it’s common for long-term cocaine use to cause issues with your nose, it can wreak havoc on other parts of your body, too. If you need to find out more about how cocaine can affect your nose, continue reading.
What is Cocaine Nose?
Essentially, cocaine nose refers to the damage and deterioration of the nasal lining caused by the chronic use of cocaine, particularly through the method of snorting. Cocaine abuse causes nasal defects ranging from minor septal perforation to loss of dorsal support, potentially leading to the collapse of the entire nose.
Cocaine is a known stimulant drug; not only does taking cocaine constrict the blood vessels, but it also causes reduced blood flow. Over time, continued cocaine use can result in long-term nasal problems, including cocaine sinus infections and nasal septum damage.
How Can a Cocaine Addiction Affect Your Nose?
Cocaine can affect the nose in several ways. When cocaine is snorted, it enters the bloodstream quickly through the nasal mucosa, which causes blood vessels to constrict. This constriction can cause reduced blood flow to the nasal tissues, which leads to a wide range of nasal issues.
Chronic cocaine use can cause persistent nasal congestion or stuffiness due to the inflammation and swelling of the nasal passages. When you’re struggling with cocaine abuse, it’s common that, over time, your nasal septum (the thin wall of cartilage and bone that divides your nasal cavity) will become incredibly vulnerable to damage.
Continuous cocaine use can erode your septum, which leads to perforation and cocaine nose holes, both of which can be hard to deal with. When this happens, nasal reconstructive surgery often has to be considered.
In worse cases, people have to have facial plastic surgery. If you notice that you’re having more frequent nose bleeds, it might be down to ongoing cocaine use. Typically, nose bleeds are caused by irritation, and the vasoconstrictive effects of cocaine cause the blood vessels in your nose to become fragile, increasing the likelihood of a nosebleed occurring.
Symptoms of Cocaine Nose
The symptoms that come with cocaine nose can vary depending on each individual and how severe their drug abuse is. Prolonged cocaine use has the potential to cause some serious damage, and it’s important to get your addiction under control if you notice tedious symptoms.
Some of the most common symptoms of cocaine nose include frequent nosebleeds, persistent nasal blockages and nasal congestion, pain and discomfort, scabbing inside the nose, difficulty breathing, and hearing a whistling sound during breathing.
In some cases, you might notice that the appearance or shape of your nose will change; this could also lead to your nose collapsing. If your nose collapses, you’ll need medical treatment, and reconstruction will most likely be necessary.
How Can Verve Healthcare Help?
Here at Verve Healthcare, we deal with an array of different addictions. Having helped people from all walks of life, we have a great wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to finding the most suitable rehabilitation centres for individuals to attend. Whether it’s yourself or a loved one battling cocaine addiction, rest assured, we’re here to help.
We understand how difficult it can be to deal with drug use, and our expert services are available for you to utilise. Attending rehab is the best option for those dealing with a cocaine addiction; rehab provides a safe space for you to overcome your addiction in the care of healthcare professionals while undergoing the detox process safely.
If you have a close family member or a friend who has a cocaine nose, we recommend seeking professional help. However, it’s not just their nose that cocaine would affect; drug abuse can significantly impact your mental health, too.
Verve Healthcare can refer you or your loved one to the most suitable rehab clinic that can offer services for both addiction and mental health issues while remaining on hand during the healing process. If you’d like to find out more information about our referral service, please feel free to contact us today. We look forward to helping you.