Marijuana is often seen as a natural and relatively harmless substance, especially as its use becomes more common and socially accepted in many parts of the world. Some people use it to relax, manage pain, or cope with stress.
Others believe it is safer than cigarettes or alcohol. However, new research from scientists at Georgia State University suggests that marijuana use may carry serious health risks, particularly when it comes to blood pressure and heart health.
The researchers found a troubling link between marijuana use and a higher risk of dying from high blood pressure.
According to their findings, people who use marijuana may face up to three times the risk of death related to high blood pressure compared to those who have never used it. This discovery adds an important warning to ongoing discussions about the long-term health effects of marijuana.
The study focused on adults aged 20 and older who took part in a large health survey conducted in the United States in 2005 and 2006. During the survey, participants were asked a simple question: whether they had ever used marijuana in their lifetime.
Anyone who answered yes was considered a marijuana user for the purposes of the study. The researchers then estimated how long each person had used marijuana by calculating the number of years from when they first tried it to their age at the time of the survey.
To understand how marijuana use might affect long-term health, the researchers linked this survey data to death records from the National Centre for Health Statistics. These records tracked causes of death up to the year 2011.
By combining these two sources of information, the scientists were able to examine whether marijuana use was connected to deaths related to high blood pressure.
A total of 1,213 participants were included in the analysis. About one third of them reported that they had never used marijuana or cigarettes. Around one fifth said they had used marijuana but never smoked cigarettes.
Another group had used both marijuana and cigarettes, either currently or in the past. Smaller groups included people who had only smoked cigarettes or who were former smokers. On average, those who had used marijuana reported doing so for about 11 and a half years.
The results were striking. People who had used marijuana were found to be 3.42 times more likely to die from high blood pressure than those who had never used it. The risk increased with longer use.
Each additional year of marijuana use raised the risk of death related to high blood pressure by about four percent. This suggests that the effects of marijuana on the heart and blood vessels may build up over time.
The researchers explained that marijuana can have strong effects on the cardiovascular system. It activates the body’s stress response, known as the sympathetic nervous system.
This can lead to a faster heart rate, higher blood pressure, and greater demand for oxygen by the heart. For people with existing heart problems or high blood pressure, these changes can be dangerous.
Doctors have already observed short-term heart-related problems after marijuana use. Emergency rooms have reported cases of chest pain, irregular heartbeats, and even heart attacks shortly after people used marijuana. This study suggests that the risks may not only be immediate but could also affect long-term survival, especially in relation to blood pressure.
One surprising finding from the study is that the heart-related risks linked to marijuana may be even greater than those associated with cigarette smoking. Cigarettes are widely known to damage the heart and blood vessels, yet marijuana showed a stronger connection to deaths from high blood pressure in this research.
The study was led by researcher Barbara A. Yankey and published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. The researchers stress that their findings do not mean everyone who uses marijuana will develop serious heart problems.
However, they do suggest that marijuana is not as harmless as many people believe, particularly for individuals who already have high blood pressure or are at risk for heart disease.
These findings highlight the need for greater public awareness about the possible health risks of marijuana. As its use continues to grow, especially for recreational purposes, understanding its effects on the heart and blood pressure becomes increasingly important.
For people concerned about their cardiovascular health, this study offers a strong reason to think carefully about marijuana use and to discuss potential risks with healthcare providers.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about How to eat your way to healthy blood pressure and results showing that Modified traditional Chinese cuisine can lower blood pressure.
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