Smoking cannabis linked to higher risk of heart attack and stroke
A recent study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, highlights the potential cardiovascular risks associated with frequent cannabis smoking and that individuals who smoke cannabis regularly may face a significantly heightened risk of experiencing heart attacks and strokes.
Cannabis consumption has increased significantly within the past 20 years as negative perceptions of its use has declined. Some studies have linked its regular use to impaired brain development and lung damage, as well as to certain cardiovascular diseases. While the exact mechanisms linking cannabis to heart disease are unclear, multiple factors could play a role. In addition to toxins, endocannabinoid receptors — the part of cells responsible for recognizing tetra-hydro-cannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis — are widespread in the body’s cardiovascular tissues and might facilitate heart risks.
To explore the link between cannabis use and health, Abra Jeffers, Ph.D., a data analyst at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, along with her team analyzed 2016–2020 data from the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey which included 4,34,104 adults aged 18-74. They assessed how often participants smoked cannabis in the past 30 days and its association with self-reported cardiovascular outcomes, such as coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and a composite measure of all three. The analysis adjusted for various factors, including tobacco use, age, sex, race, BMI, obesity, diabetes, physical activity, and socioeconomic status.
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