Environmental Toxins and the Heart

The heart and the vascular system are vulnerable to toxins, which may be environmental (e.g., ambient pollution, heavy metals, plant-based), iatrogenic (e.g., chemotherapy, diphenhydramine, complementary or alternative medicines), or secondary to ingestion of social drugs (e.g., anabolics, energy drinks, illicit drugs). Exposure to toxins may cause structural damage to the cardiovascular system and/or functional disturbances such as decreased cardiac output, electrical conduction system abnormalities, and disruption of systemic arterial pressure autoregulation. Successful treatment necessitates recognition of the cardiovascular effects of the toxin; removal of the toxic agent; and, in some cases, treatment with a known antidote.