By American Heart Association News
Recent research indicates that cannabis use—whether through smoking, consumption, or vaping—may elevate the likelihood of experiencing heart attacks and strokes.
According to the findings, survey participants who reported using cannabis, often referred to as marijuana, faced a greater risk of cardiovascular issues, irrespective of their use of tobacco or other pre-existing cardiovascular risk factors. This study was published on Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
“Despite its widespread usage, the risks associated with cannabis, particularly concerning cardiovascular health, remain poorly understood,” noted lead study author Dr. Abra Jeffers in a press release. Dr. Jeffers serves as a data analyst at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “Public perceptions about the dangers of cannabis smoking have declined, leading many to overlook its potential health risks.”
Furthermore, she highlighted, “the primary method of cannabis consumption, smoking, might entail additional dangers due to the inhalation of particulate matter.”
The adoption of marijuana has surged in the United States over the last few decades, with 24 states and the District of Columbia legalizing its recreational use. A federal survey from 2019 revealed that over 48 million individuals aged 12 and older had used marijuana at least once, nearly double the figure from 2002. Nevertheless, marijuana remains illegal at the federal level.
Previous studies examining the connection between marijuana use and cardiovascular events such as heart attacks or strokes faced numerous limitations. The relatively small population of regular marijuana smokers, an emphasis on younger individuals at lower risk for cardiovascular disease, and the prevalence of concurrent tobacco use complicated the investigation of marijuana’s isolated effects.
In this recent study, researchers scrutinized survey data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention involving 434,104 adults in the U.S. from 2016 to 2020. They assessed how the frequency of cannabis use in the past month correlated with self-reported cardiovascular outcomes, including coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and strokes, across the general adult demographic and those who had never used tobacco or e-cigarettes. The study also included men under 55 and women under 65 considered at risk for heart disease.
Any reported cannabis use was associated with an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, with the highest risks linked to frequent users.
Specifically, adults utilizing cannabis daily exhibited a 25% increase in the odds of experiencing a heart attack and a 42% rise in stroke risk compared to non-users. Smoking emerged as the predominant form of cannabis consumption, followed by edibles and vaping.
In the subgroup of men under 55 and women under 65, cannabis use correlated with a 36% greater combined risk for coronary artery disease, heart attack, or stroke, regardless of tobacco use. This risk remained notable even among those who had never smoked tobacco or used e-cigarettes.
“The smoke from cannabis shares several similarities with tobacco smoke, with the exception of its psychoactive component: THC versus nicotine,” Dr. Jeffers explained. “Our research suggests that smoking cannabis carries significant cardiovascular risks, akin to those associated with smoking tobacco. This finding is particularly crucial given the rising use of cannabis juxtaposed with a decline in traditional tobacco consumption.”
Dr. Robert L. Page II, who led the writing group for a 2020 scientific statement from the American Heart Association regarding marijuana’s cardiovascular effects, emphasized that these new findings serve as a “call to action for healthcare providers” regarding “a potentially dangerous combination.” Page is a professor at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora and was not involved in this latest research.
“With the growing legality and availability of cannabis across the United States, it’s essential for clinicians to assess cannabis usage in every patient consultation, enabling open discussions about the associated cardiovascular risks and strategies to mitigate those risks,” Page advised.
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American Heart Association News provides information on heart disease, stroke, and related health matters. The opinions expressed in these news articles may not reflect the official stance of the American Heart Association. The conclusions and the accuracy of studies found in American Heart Association scientific publications or presented at its meetings are solely those of the respective authors and do not necessarily represent the American Heart Association’s official guidelines or positions.
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