Marijuana use has become more common recently.
Although it can bring some health benefits like improving sexual activity, reducing stress and solving skin rash sting, more studies have found that it could also bring harms to cardiovascular health.
For example, one recent study reported by American College of Cardiology shows that using marijuana raises the risk of stroke and heart failure.
The study drew data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, which includes the health records of patients admitted at more than 1,000 hospitals comprising about 20 percent of U.S. medical centers.
Marijuana use was diagnosed in about 1.5 percent (316,000) of more than 20 million health records included in the analysis.
The team found marijuana use was linked to a much higher risk for stroke, heart failure, coronary artery disease and sudden cardiac death.
After controlling the effects of other factors, they found marijuana use was independently linked to a 26% increase in the risk of stroke and a 10% increase in the risk of developing heart failure.
In second study from Georgia State University, researchers find that marijuana use is associated with a three-fold risk of death from high blood pressure.
The researchers designed a retrospective follow-up study of NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) participants aged 20 years and above.
Among a total of 1 213 participants, 21% used only marijuana, 20% used marijuana and smoked cigarettes, 16% used marijuana and were past-smokers. The average duration of marijuana use was 11.5 years.
The team found that compared to non-users, marijuana users had a 3.42-times higher risk of death from high blood pressure and a 1.04 greater risk for each year of use.
The results suggest a possible risk of high blood pressure mortality from marijuana use.
In a third study reported from American Heart Association, researchers find that when rats inhaled secondhand marijuana smoke for one minute, their arteries carried blood less efficiently for at least 90 minutes.
The similar exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke caused blood vessel impairment that recovered within 30 minutes.
The team also found the mere burning of the plant material appears responsible for the impaired blood vessels.
They suggest that the inhalation of smoke should be avoided, regardless of whether it comes from tobacco, marijuana, or other sources.
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Source: American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, European Society of Cardiology
