There’s No Heightened Cardiovascular Danger with Cannabis Use, Study Indicates

according to research has been published in diary heart rhythmmiddle-aged adults with a history of cannabis use are not at high risk of experiencing atrial fibrillation (AFib), also known as arrhythmia. NORML report. The relationship between cannabis and heart disease is currently under close scrutiny and attention.

This longitudinal study was conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco. The research team examined the relationship between cannabis use and atrial fibrillation in a very large sample size, a group of more than 150,000 individuals between the ages of 40 and 69. This group consisted of non-users, occasional users, and never-users. People who use cannabis frequently. They monitored participants over a six-year period. The findings do not show significant evidence to suggest that people who use cannabis are more likely to develop atrial fibrillation than non-users.

“We found no evidence of occasional cannabis use among a large prospective cohort. [defined as more than 100 times] “It was associated with a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation,” the study reads. “To our knowledge, this is the first longitudinal cohort study to evaluate such recreational use, and the first to report no association between cannabis use and risk of atrial fibrillation. It is.”

AFib is a heart rhythm disorder identified by rapid, irregular beats in the upper chambers of the heart, also known as the atria. This arrhythmia can cause confusing, sedative, and potentially dangerous symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, and chest pain. Some people experience no symptoms at all. AFib is dangerous because it increases the risk of blood clots forming in the heart. These can then develop into a stroke. Over time, atrial fibrillation can weaken the heart and cause heart failure. Before you panic and have an anxiety attack because you mistake it for AFib, know that atrial fibrillation must be diagnosed by a doctor, and that diagnosis requires the use of an electrocardiogram (ECG). Treatment for AFib focuses on controlling heart rate and restoring normal heart rhythm using medications and medical interventions, in addition to lifestyle changes.

NORML reported that in October, Suggested research results Middle-aged people who use cannabis are no more at risk for atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, than people who have never used cannabis.This conclusion was supported by a meta-analysis published in mayconcluded that “cannabis use is modestly predictive of all major adverse cardiovascular events,” referring to conditions such as myocardial infarction and stroke. However, in some cases, the data may be inconsistent.a contrasting reports From September 2024 magazine publication Dependence It highlighted that adults who engage in problematic cannabis use are at increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

as high times The study analyzed medical data from approximately 60,000 adults in Alberta, Canada, according to the report. Although we specifically focus on the diagnosis code for “cannabis use disorder,” please keep in mind that this is an addiction-focused publication. As High Times reported, they define cannabis use disorder as the inability to stop using cannabis despite negative effects.

They compared these to codes for a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack, heart failure and stroke, that occurred between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2019.

The study's findings are somewhat alarming, stating that “Canadian adults with a cannabis use disorder appear to have an approximately 60 per cent increased risk of experiencing adverse cardiovascular events compared to adults without a cannabis use disorder.” did. “Importantly, this evidence suggests that cannabis use may increase the risk of serious cardiovascular events in healthier people. “Points to the importance of educating patients about the potential risks associated with use and cannabis use disorder,” the study reads.

In addition, people who have been diagnosed with a cannabis use disorder and are otherwise considered “healthy” (have no co-occurring mental health disorder, have not seen a doctor in the past 6 months, are not prescribed medication) It was also found that people who did not have a medical condition or had no other medical conditions were at higher risk of developing cannabis use disorder. These cardiovascular events.

But to give you more peace of mind at the end, know that there is contradictory evidence for this too. A study published in the American Journal of Cardiology in August 2023 shows that middle-aged adults who use cannabis do not increase their risk of heart attack. The study, which compared cannabis users with non-cannabis users, found that those who consumed cannabis monthly in the past year did not have an increased risk of heart attack.