Marijuana, known medically as cannabis, is gaining widespread acceptance for both recreational and medical use across the United States.
However, its impact on heart health remains incompletely understood.
Two preliminary studies presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2023 shed light on the association between regular marijuana use and the risk of heart failure, heart attack, and stroke.
Study 1: Daily Marijuana Use and Heart Failure Risk
The first study analyzed data from the All of Us Research Program, involving over 150,000 U.S. adults.
Researchers investigated the link between daily marijuana use and the development of heart failure, taking into account various cardiovascular risk factors such as age, sex, smoking, and pre-existing conditions like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Key Findings:
Participants who reported daily marijuana use had a 34% higher risk of developing heart failure compared to non-users.
This increased risk was consistent across different age groups, genders, and smoking histories.
When considering coronary artery disease, it appeared to mediate the relationship between daily marijuana use and heart failure.
Study 2: Marijuana Use in Elderly Non-Smokers and Cardiovascular Events
The second study focused on adults over 65 years old with cardiovascular risk factors but no tobacco use history.
Researchers examined hospitalization records from the 2019 National Inpatient Sample, comparing marijuana users to non-users with similar risk factors.
Key Findings:
Cannabis users with cardiovascular risk factors had a 20% higher chance of experiencing major heart or brain events during hospitalization.
Among these users, 13.9% had a major adverse heart and brain event during their hospital stay, compared to non-users.
Cannabis users also exhibited a higher rate of heart attacks and were more frequently transferred to other healthcare facilities.
Implications and Limitations
The findings underscore the potential cardiovascular risks associated with regular marijuana use.
Smoking or inhaling marijuana can increase levels of carbon monoxide and tar, similar to tobacco cigarettes, which are linked to heart issues, chest pain, heart rhythm disturbances, heart attacks, and other serious conditions.
It is crucial for healthcare professionals to inquire about cannabis use when assessing patients’ medical history.
While these studies provide valuable insights, further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of cannabis use comprehensively.
The public should be aware of the growing evidence linking marijuana to cardiovascular risks and engage in open conversations with healthcare providers regarding its use.
Conclusion
Regular marijuana use is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, including heart failure, heart attack, and stroke, even after accounting for other cardiovascular risk factors.
These findings emphasize the importance of considering marijuana’s impact on heart health and encourage further research to better understand its implications.
Both healthcare professionals and the public should be aware of the potential risks associated with cannabis use and engage in informed discussions about its use in medical and recreational contexts.
If you care about cannabis, please read studies that what you need to know about cannabis and heart attack, and CBD from cannabis may help inhibit COVID-19 infection.
For more information about cannabis, please see recent studies that medical cannabis could help reduce depression, and results showing this stuff in cannabis may protect aging brain, treat Alzheimer’s.
Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
