High blood pressure is a very common health problem around the world. It happens when the force of blood pressing against the walls of your blood vessels is too strong for a long time.
This condition makes the heart work harder than normal, and over time, it can cause serious problems like heart attacks, strokes, kidney damage, and even vision loss.
A healthy blood pressure reading is usually around 120 over 80. Doctors call this 120/80 mmHg. But if your numbers keep going higher than 130/80, then you may have high blood pressure.
Many things can raise your risk, such as getting older, being overweight, not moving enough, eating too much salt, smoking, drinking too much alcohol, stress, and some diseases.
Now, scientists are starting to think that using marijuana might be another risk. A new study from Georgia State University has found that marijuana users may have a higher chance of dying from problems related to high blood pressure. This study looked at people aged 20 and older, and they were called marijuana users if they said they had used it before.
The researchers discovered that people who used marijuana were more than three times more likely to die from high blood pressure compared to those who didn’t use it. Even more worrying, the longer people had used marijuana, the higher their risk of dying from this condition.
But how does marijuana affect blood pressure? When someone uses marijuana, their heart rate can go up and their blood pressure can rise too. The body also needs more oxygen during this time. For people who already have high blood pressure or heart issues, these changes can be dangerous.
They may even lead to chest pain or heart attacks. In fact, the researchers said that marijuana might be more harmful to the heart than smoking cigarettes, which are already known to be bad for heart health.
Many people think marijuana is safe because it’s used in some medical treatments and is now legal in some places. But this study is a reminder that it still has health risks, especially for those with heart problems.
If you have high blood pressure or are at risk for it, you should think carefully before using marijuana. It’s also a good idea to talk to your doctor about any drug use, especially if you already have other health issues.
This study was published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. It helps us understand more about how marijuana might harm the body, especially the heart and blood vessels. Still, more studies are needed to learn exactly how marijuana affects blood pressure and why it increases the risk of death.
Until more is known, it’s wise to be careful. Living a healthy life—by eating well, staying active, getting enough sleep, and avoiding risky substances like tobacco and marijuana—can help keep your heart and body strong. People who already have high blood pressure should take steps to manage it and avoid things that might make it worse.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that could increase high blood pressure risk, and people with severe high blood pressure should reduce coffee intake.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and results showing plant-based foods could benefit people with high blood pressure.
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