New pot users six times more likely to have heart attack

There is a considerable pot to ease your mind, but cannabis could put strain on your heart.

Two major studies suggest that active cannabis users face a stunning risk six times higher heart attack compared to those who stay away from the drug, even among young and different healthy adults.

“Asking the use of cannabis should be part of the work of clinicians to understand the overall cardiovascular risk of patients, similar to the question of smoking cigarettes,” said Dr. Ibrahim Kamel, the lead author of the study and clinical instructor at the Chobanian and Avedian School of Boston University.

Kamel and his team used data from Trinetx, a global health research network, to conduct the retrospective study.

Participants, all aged 50 and under, had no major heart issues at first, with healthy blood pressure, cholesterol levels and without history of diabetes, tobacco use or coronary artery disease.

After an average tracking of more than three years, they found that cannabis users had more than a sixfold increase at the risk of heart attack and double the chance of heart failure.

But the dangers do not stop here. Marijuana users were found to have an increased fourfold risk of ischemic stroke – a condition when a blood clot disrupts blood flow to the brain – and an increased threefold risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack or stroke.

The Kamel team was created through data from 12 studies that included over 75 million people, including research by US, Canada and India.

Seven of the studies found a strong link between the use of cannabis and the risk of heart attack, while four did not show any significant changes and one showed a little negative association.

When joining all the data together, researchers found that active cannabis users were 1.5 times more likely to suffer a heart attack than those who did not use the drug.

However, Kamel noted some restrictions in the study. Researchers did not take into account the quantity and duration of cannabis use, nor investigated other potential contributing factors.

“We need to take some care in interpreting findings in that cannabis consumption is usually associated with other substances such as cocaine or other illegal medicines that do not count,” Kamel said.

He added, “Patients have to come with their doctors and remember that we are their number one lawyer and have full story issues.”

Cannabis is still banned at the federal level, but 39 states and DCs have legalized it for medical use. Moreover, 24 countries and the country’s capital have given the green light to the recreational marijuana for adults 21 or more.

While marijuana legalization spreads across the country, the number of regular users is increasing. In fact, research shows that regular use of cannabis has now become more common than regular alcohol consumption.

In particular of New Yorkers are living high life. The Big Apple has won the world of marijuana consumer capital, with residents smoking, vaping and eating an impressive 62.3 tons of weeds each year, according to the Global Pricements of Cannabis 2023.

Proponents have long praised the medicinal benefits of cannabis, including the help of people to get rid of opioid addictions, relieve the side effects of chemotherapy and the treatment of insomnia. Moreover, many rely on marijuana to manage chronic pain and relieve symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

However, there are increasing concerns about the potential damage to regular and long -term use.

Numerous studies have linked cannabis with an elevated risk of heart attacks, cardiovascular disease and stroke. However, the exact ways of marijuana affect the cardiovascular system remain unclear.

Camel and his colleagues hypothesize that cannabis can interfere with the regulation of the heart rhythm and increase the demand of oxygen in the heart muscle. They also suggest that the drug can contribute to endothelial dysfunction, making it harder for blood vessels to relax and expand, which disrupts blood flow.

Other research has linked the use of cannabis with damaged brain function, mental health issues, gastrointestinal problems and an increased risk of developing head, neck or throat cancer. Smoking from marijuana can also cause damage to your lungs.

There is also the risk of becoming dependent on marijuana. About 3 in 10 users develop a cannabis use disorder, characterized by mandatory use despite negative consequences, according to centers for control and prevention of diseases.

Worse, evidence suggests that cannabis products with high concentrations THC – psychoactive complex in weeds – are associated with more severe symptoms of cannabis use.

This is especially disturbing as the medicine continues to become more powerful. In the 1990s, THC levels ranged from 3.7% to 10%. Today, the average power in Colorado is a stunning 18.7%, according to a laboratory test.