Cannabis use linked to increased risk of heart attack: Study

• According to a new study, cannabis users under 50 are six times more likely to have a heart attack and twice as likely to experience heart failure. The study followed 75 million participants from the U.S., Canada and India over three years.
• Despite this study’s findings, scientists and doctors are still unclear exactly how marijuana affects the cardiovascular system.
• Researchers suggest including cannabis usage in routine cardiovascular risk assessments.

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A new study shows cannabis users under the age of 50 are six times more likely to have a heart attack. The research, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, also found that the same age group is 4.3 times more likely to experience a stroke and twice as likely to experience heart failure.

Who was studied?

Participants had no major heart issues at the start of the study, with healthy blood pressure, cholesterol levels and no history of diabetes, tobacco use or coronary artery disease. The study followed the participants for three years. Those who used cannabis regularly showed six times the risk of heart attack and double the chance of heart failure.

The research is a culmination of 12 studies involving more than 75 million people, including research from the United States, Canada and India.

Dr. Ibrahim Kamel, the study’s lead author and a clinical instructor at Boston University’s Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, acknowledged the study didn’t consider the amount or duration of cannabis use. Following the study, Kamel concluded that asking about cannabis should be part of a doctor’s routine questionnaire.

“Asking about cannabis use should be part of clinicians’ workup to understand patients’ overall cardiovascular risk, similar to asking about smoking cigarettes,” Kamel said in a news release.

What didn’t the study conclude?

While studies remain inconclusive and few and far between, scientists and doctors are still unclear how marijuana affects the cardiovascular system. Generally, researchers understand that marijuana can make the heart beat faster and raise blood pressure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The report also lacked detailed information to determine the risks between inhaled versus ingested cannabis.

Cannabis is still banned at the federal level, but 39 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized it for medical use. Additionally, 24 states and the nation’s capital have legalized recreational marijuana for adults 21 and over.