Mushroom Consumption: Stroke Risk And Prevention

While there is no evidence to suggest that mushrooms can directly cause strokes, there are several risks associated with their consumption. Also known as magic mushrooms or psilocybin, shrooms are classified as hallucinogens, altering one's perception of reality. The effects of shrooms can vary, from severe anxiety and paranoia to bizarre trips and hallucinations. The drug can be injected, sniffed, or smoked, and its effects are typically felt within 30 minutes of consumption, peaking at around 90 minutes.

There have been reports of shrooms increasing heart rate, regardless of pre-existing heart conditions, and the risk of seizures is heightened when shrooms are mixed with stimulants such as cocaine, molly, and amphetamines. Additionally, individuals with seizure disorders or any medical condition that can result in seizures are advised to avoid shrooms, as the effects can be detrimental to both the brain and heart.

In rare cases, consuming shrooms can lead to long-term psychosis and even death. Furthermore, accidentally consuming toxic or poisonous mushrooms instead of magic mushrooms is also a possibility, underscoring the dangers associated with this hallucinogen.

Can shrooms cause a stroke?

Shrooms, also known as magic mushrooms or psilocybin, are one of the most frequently used illicit yet popular psychedelics. They can be injected, sniffed, smoked, or consumed orally. While there is no known lethal dose of shrooms, they can still be dangerous. Shrooms can cause a multitude of life-altering problems and negatively impact the heart and brain, the worst-affected areas.

Shrooms can increase your heart rate to a range between 150 and 160, even without a pre-existing heart condition. This increase is further heightened when shrooms are mixed with other drugs. Shrooms also cause an increase in blood pressure, which is dependent on factors such as heart health, dosage, and whether the shrooms are being mixed with other drugs. If you have a history of high blood pressure or stroke, consuming shrooms can be deadly.

Shrooms have also been linked to seizures. When taken alone, shrooms rarely cause seizures. However, when mixed with stimulants like coke, molly, or amphetamines, the likelihood of seizures increases. Additionally, if you have a seizure disorder like epilepsy, shrooms can trigger a seizure.

While shrooms themselves do not cause dehydration, they are often mixed with molly, which can lead to dehydration and sodium-water imbalances in the blood.

In summary, while shrooms may not directly cause a stroke, they can indirectly lead to stroke-like symptoms and increase the likelihood of a stroke occurring due to their impact on heart rate, blood pressure, and the possibility of seizures. It is important to note that the combination of shrooms with other drugs and a history of medical conditions can further elevate these risks.

What are the effects of shrooms on the brain?

Shrooms, also known as magic mushrooms or psilocybin, are a street drug made from fresh or dried hallucinogenic mushrooms. They are one of the most frequently used illicit yet popular psychedelics. Shrooms can be injected, sniffed, smoked, or consumed orally.

Effects on the Brain

Shrooms can have a multitude of life-altering effects on the brain. Research shows that shrooms stimulate serotonin release and warp the neural pathways located in the prefrontal cortex, which controls awareness, mood, and cognitive functions. Shrooms are classified as hallucinogens, which alter one's perception of reality. Common effects of shrooms include:

• Hallucinations
• Derealization
• Depersonalization
• Visual alterations and distortions
• Drowsiness and yawning
• Impaired concentration
• Lack of coordination
• Unusual body sensations
• Feelings of euphoria
• Increased positive mood
• Reduced negative mood
• Reduced amygdala response to negative affective stimuli
• Increased emotional and brain plasticity
• Increased heart rate
• High blood pressure
• Seizures
• Fluid imbalances
• Dehydration
• Serotonin crash

The effects of shrooms can last for several hours, and sometimes the effects can linger for several days. Shrooms can also cause persistent, distressing alterations to how one perceives the world, known as flashbacks, which can occur anywhere from weeks to years after using the drug.

Risk Factors

It is important to note that shrooms can trigger psychotic episodes and are not safe for individuals with a history of psychosis or seizure disorders. Additionally, those with a history of high blood pressure or stroke should not use shrooms. Mixing shrooms with other stimulants, such as coke, molly, or amphetamines, can also increase the risk of negative side effects, including seizures and dehydration.

What are the effects of shrooms on the heart?

Shrooms, also known as magic mushrooms or psilocybin, are one of the most frequently used illicit yet popular psychedelics. They can be injected, sniffed, smoked, or consumed orally. Within 30 minutes of consumption, the drug is absorbed by the gut and then processed by the liver. The effects of the drug typically peak around 90 minutes after consumption and can last for roughly six more hours.

Shrooms have a multitude of effects on the body, but they impact the heart and brain the most. Here are some ways shrooms can affect the heart:

• Increased Heart Rate: Shrooms can increase the heart rate to a range of 150-160 BPM, even in individuals without existing heart problems. Mixing shrooms with other drugs can further elevate the heart rate. It is important to note that the heart rate should return to normal once the effects of the drug wear off. If it does not, medical attention should be sought.
• High Blood Pressure: Since shrooms increase heart rate, they can also lead to elevated blood pressure. The impact on blood pressure depends on factors such as heart health, dosage, and whether other drugs are being used concurrently. Individuals with a history of high blood pressure or stroke are advised against using shrooms as it can be deadly.
• Seizures: Shrooms can cause seizures, especially when mixed with stimulants like coke, molly, or amphetamines. Individuals with seizure disorders, such as epilepsy, are particularly susceptible to seizures when using shrooms and should avoid them.
• Cardiac Arrest: There have been reported cases of cardiac arrest associated with psilocybin use. One case study described a 48-year-old male who experienced ventricular fibrillation and subsequently underwent extensive cardiac evaluation.
• Valvular Heart Disease (VHD): Prolonged and repeated microdosing of psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin may cause VHD due to their binding affinity to the 5HT2B receptor. VHD is characterized by damage to the heart valves, which can lead to shortness of breath, weakness, and sudden cardiac death.

It is important to note that shrooms can have serious and life-altering effects on the heart and should not be combined with other drugs. If you have any underlying medical conditions, it is crucial to avoid shrooms to prevent adverse consequences.

What are the risks of shrooms?

Shrooms, or magic mushrooms, are not considered addictive, and there is no known lethal dose. However, they do carry several risks, including:

• Seizures: Shrooms can cause seizures, especially if you have a seizure disorder such as epilepsy. Mixing shrooms with stimulants like coke, molly, or amphetamines also increases the risk of seizures.
• Increased heart rate: Shrooms can increase your heart rate, even if you don't have a heart problem. At a normal dose, your heart rate may rise to between 150 and 160. Combining shrooms with other drugs can further elevate your heart rate.
• High blood pressure: As shrooms increase your heart rate, they may also lead to high blood pressure. This effect is more likely if you have a history of high blood pressure or take a larger dose of shrooms.
• Dehydration: While shrooms themselves don't cause dehydration, they are often mixed with molly, which can lead to dehydration and sodium-water imbalances in the blood.
• Poisoning: Shrooms closely resemble some types of poisonous mushrooms, so it's easy to accidentally ingest a toxic variety. Poisoning symptoms include muscle spasms, confusion, and delirium, and can be life-threatening.
• Unpleasant physical and psychological effects: Shrooms can cause nausea, chills, vomiting, headaches, paranoia, anxiety, and extreme terror. This is often referred to as a "bad trip."
• Overdose: While rare, it is possible to overdose on shrooms. Signs of overdose include panic attacks, paranoia, psychosis, vomiting, agitation, and seizures.
• Permanent brain alterations: Shrooms can induce psychosis, especially in individuals with a family history of schizophrenia or psychotic disorders. Regular use of shrooms may also lead to permanent brain damage.
• Hallucinogen-induced persisting perception disorder (HPPD): A rare but serious side effect of shrooms is HPPD, which causes flashbacks of hallucinogenic experiences days, months, or years after last use. This disorder can lead to severe distress and frightening hallucinations.
• Impaired judgment and increased risk of injury: Shrooms alter your perception of reality and can impair your judgment, leading to unusual risks or dangerous situations. They also cause confusion, drowsiness, and loss of motor coordination.
• Tolerance and cross-tolerance: Regular use of shrooms can lead to tolerance, where you require higher doses to achieve the same effects. Additionally, cross-tolerance with other drugs like LSD or marijuana may occur, meaning you'll have a higher tolerance for those substances as well.

How are shrooms detected?

Shrooms can be detected by a variety of methods, including lab tests. The detection time frame depends on the type of test: urine, saliva, blood, or hair. Urine tests are the most common form of drug testing, especially for run-of-the-mill testing by employers. The most popular urine test is a 5-panel test, which usually detects THC (the psychoactive compound in marijuana). Shrooms generally won't show up on a 5-panel test, or even an 8-, 10-, or 12-panel test. However, specialized tests designed to detect shrooms do exist, but they are much more costly to perform and are generally not used unless there is a strong suspicion that someone has recently taken shrooms.

Shrooms can be detected in the blood a maximum of 30 minutes after use and will stay in the blood for up to 24 hours. Blood tests are rarely used for testing due to the short detection window and the invasiveness of the test. Shrooms are metabolized too quickly to be detected by saliva tests.

Hair follicle testing can detect shrooms for up to 90 days, but these tests are less common due to their higher cost.

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