Whether you smoke it or use it in an edible, cannabis has been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks. This is because it can cause some of the same cardiovascular problems that are linked to smoking tobacco, and it can interfere with some prescribed medications used for heart conditions.
Increased Risk of Stroke
There is a growing body of evidence that shows cannabis can increase your risk of stroke. Some population studies have shown that a person who consumes cannabis is more likely to have an ischemic stroke than someone who does not. But these studies were observational and did not include drug tests to confirm that the users really were using the substance. Researchers decided to do another study that had both a control group and drug tests to see if they could replicate the findings.
They looked at data from the National Inpatient Sample, which compiles data on more than 7 million hospital stays annually across the U.S. The study included 161,390 adults aged 18-44 who had been hospitalized between October 2015 and 2017, and whose health records indicated a previous stroke (either clot-caused or bleeding stroke) or TIA.
When researchers looked at the people who had tested positive for cannabis, they found that 16% of them had a stroke – double the rate of those who didn’t test positive. But after they adjusted for other factors that can affect your risk of having a stroke, such as age, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sickle cell disease, obesity, diabetes and smoking and heart conditions, there was no link between recent marijuana use and a higher or lower risk of stroke.
But the study does add to the list of studies that have conflicting results on whether or not cannabis increases your risk of stroke. That’s why Carmela V San Luis, a neurology researcher at the University of Mississippi in Jackson, says she’s encouraging other researchers to look at larger groups and do more than just drug testing data to determine if cannabis can increase your risk of stroke.
One of the biggest reasons that this might be true is because young people who smoke cannabis are more likely to also smoke cigarettes, or vape e-cigarettes. The e-cigarettes are made with nicotine, which can also cause an increased risk of stroke.
According to Jain, it’s essential to increase awareness among young people about the impact that chronic and habitual marijuana use has on their health, especially if they have established cardiovascular disease risk factors or have had previous stroke episodes. He recommends doctors to ask patients if they have ever used cannabis and counsel them on the risks associated with it as part of regular doctor visits.
Increased Risk of Arrhythmias
The impact of cannabis on heart health is a concern for many people. The drug has been linked to a number of health problems, including stroke and heart failure. It can also increase the risk of developing cancer and diabetes, as well as cause depression, insomnia and anxiety.
Arrhythmias, or abnormal heart rhythms, are a common problem among marijuana users. They can include atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia.
There is a growing body of evidence that cannabis use increases the risk of developing arrhythmias. This is because it can disrupt the normal balance of chemicals in your body, particularly those that regulate your heartbeat.
However, it is important to note that most cases of arrhythmias due to cannabis use are isolated and do not indicate a definite causal relationship.
Another possible reason for the increased risk of arrhythmias is the fact that many cannabis users are heavy drinkers, as well as cigarette smokers and e-cigarette users. They also may have other risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, which can all increase the risk of stroke.
Some researchers are concerned that this might make the risk of arrhythmias even greater. They suggest that people who are prone to these conditions should not be using cannabis.
Luckily, most of these symptoms are temporary and go away after a few hours of abstinence. If you are concerned about your heart health, it’s best to speak with a doctor before using cannabis.
In addition, the long-term effects of cannabis use on your heart health can be different for everyone. It depends on a number of factors, such as your age, diet and weight. It can also vary depending on the type of cannabis you are using.
The main psychoactive component of marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, which acts on the G-protein cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. It is believed that these receptors play a role in regulating your heart rate, lungs and other organs.
The increased risk of arrhythmias in marijuana users can be attributed to the fact that it disrupts these chemical balances in the body, which in turn leads to abnormalities in heart function and blood flow. Some researchers believe this can result in a condition called Brugada pattern, which is often accompanied by sudden cardiac death or ventricular fibrillation.
Increased Risk of Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common and often dangerous health condition. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including stress, diet, and lifestyle choices. Fortunately, most people with high blood pressure can lower their levels through way changes and medications.
However, there is some debate about whether cannabis use can raise blood pressure, especially in people who already have high blood pressure. A recent study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that people who smoked marijuana were at a 1.7-fold higher risk of having a heart attack than those who never smoked it.
This increased risk could be a result of a variety of factors, including cannabis’ effect on appetite, which can cause people to eat salty and sweet foods more frequently. This can lead to weight gain, which also contributes to high blood pressure.
Additionally, smoking marijuana releases carbon monoxide into the air and can bind with hemoglobin in red blood cells, decreasing oxygen delivery to the heart. This can increase blood pressure, especially in people who already have hypertension or heart disease.
Ultimately, this can lead to a heart attack or stroke in some cases. That’s why it is important to discuss your medical history with a doctor before using cannabis.
The endocannabinoid system is crucial in regulating the body’s important systems and functions, including the cardiovascular system. Studies have shown that endocannabinoids can widen blood vessels, allowing more fluid to flow through them, which will lower blood pressure.
In addition, some cannabinoids can help to relax blood vessels and increase circulation, which will decrease blood pressure even further. This is why some people have reported feeling more relaxed after consuming marijuana.
Another factor that can impact blood pressure is the strain of cannabis used. Different types of weed will have different effects and aromas, so it is important to choose the right product for you.
Some people who have a high blood pressure may notice that their blood pressure spikes after they smoke cannabis, but this can be temporary. They should also be careful when using vaporized or edible forms of cannabis because they have been known to affect blood pressure differently.
Increased Risk of Heart Failure
A large study found that cannabis use – whether it be smoking, vaping or eating as an edible – can significantly increase your risk of heart failure. Specifically, people under 45 years of age who smoked cannabis within the past 30 days were almost twice as likely to suffer a heart attack than those who did not smoke it.
Researchers looked at data from 33,000 adults who were asked about their cannabis use in a survey. Among the 33,000 participants, 17% said they used cannabis within the last 30 days.
When compared to non-users, those who smoked cannabis had greater cardiovascular risks including higher blood pressure, a lower heart rate and an increased likelihood of having heart attacks. Moreover, they were more likely to be male, smokers of cigarettes and e-cigarettes and heavy alcohol drinkers.
The researchers also found that heart rhythm abnormalities could occur within an hour of a person smoking cannabis. This could indicate that the chemicals in cannabis triggered abnormalities in heart function and therefore posed an immediate threat to your health.
Another study conducted by scientists at Queen Mary University of London suggests that regular cannabis users may have structural changes to their heart which are a precursor to heart failure. These changes cause the heart to become thicker and less flexible.
According to this study, these changes can result in the heart being unable to pump blood around the body as it normally would, and it could also affect the amount of oxygen that can be carried to vital organs.
These findings are particularly interesting because the researchers say that they are not able to identify the exact cause of the structural change. They are unsure of how this could be linked to the effects of the drug, but they suspect that it could be a combination of several factors.
This is not the first study to have found that cannabis can negatively impact your heart health, but it may be the most thorough yet. This is because the research was based on an extensive database of patients. It also took into account other cardiovascular risk factors such as age, smoking tobacco and alcohol consumption, weight and diabetes.
