What Is Adderall?
Adderall is the brand name of a prescription medication containing amphetamines and a closely related stimulant called dextroamphetamine. This medication is commonly used to control the symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Doctors also sometimes prescribe it for treatment of the sleep disorder narcolepsy. Adderall has gained significant popularity among some high school and college students as an illicit study aid. When abused in this or any other way, Adderall can lead to a heart attack. Amphetamines primarily come in two basic forms: levoamphetamine (commonly known as amphetamine) and dextroamphetamine. Essentially, the molecules of these chemicals are mirror images of one another; this means they contain the same chemical configuration but have different orientations in three-dimensional space. Doctors and scientists refer to these types of closely related molecules as stereoisomers. Inside the body, the difference in spatial orientation between levoamphetamine and dextroamphetamine produces a difference in drug effects. Even at low therapeutic doses, levoamphetamine is significantly more potent than dextroamphetamine. For this reason, Adderall contains 75% dextroamphetamine and only 25% levoamphetamine. The drug comes in forms that include both a standard-release tablet and an extended-release capsule.Heart Attack Basics
A heart attack occurs whenever the heart muscle is robbed of its oxygen supply and doesn’t have the means to function properly or stay alive. In most people, oxygen starvation in the heart muscle stems from a blockage in the blood-bearing arteries that extend into the muscle. The main underlying cause of this blockage is the hardening of the arteries and the subsequent formation of a cholesterol-based substance, plaque, on the artery walls. When plaque forms, it encourages the abnormal accumulation of blood components called platelets; when enough platelets accumulate, a blood clot can form and stop oxygen-rich blood from passing through the affected artery and feeding the heart. In addition to this process, potential causes of oxygen starvation and a heart attack include:- Heart failure – Insufficient blood pumping from the heart to the arteries
- Arrhythmia – Dangerous instability in a heartbeat
- Vasospasm – Abnormal, restrictive spasming in the heart’s arteries
