Young marijuana users are six times more likely to have a heart attack than those who abstain from the drug, according to a new study that analyzed data from more than 4.6 million people.
The study followed adults younger than 50 who didn’t have any comorbidities from 2010 to 2018. According to research that was pre-published in the journal JACC: Advances, the study found “evidence linking cannabis use to adverse cardiovascular events, including MI [Myocardial Infarction], ischemic stroke, HF [heart failure] and mortality.”
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“Cannabis use appears to pose a substantial and independent risk for these outcomes, even in a population without traditional cardiovascular risk factors,” the study said. “These findings suggest cannabis as a novel and under-recognized risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.”
The study’s lead author, Dr. Ibrahim Kamel — a clinical instructor at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and internal medicine resident at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Boston — said doctors should ask about a patient’s cannabis use to get a better understanding of their cardiovascular health, reports SciTechDaily.
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It was not specified if the cannabis consumption was via smoking or edibles.
Kamel also shares that patients need to be honest with their doctors. “We should have some caution in interpreting the findings in that cannabis consumption is usually associated with other substances such as cocaine or other illicit drugs that are not accounted for,” Kamel said, according to the outlet. “Patients should be forthcoming with their doctors and remember that we are their number one advocate and having the full story matters.”
Kamel will present his findings March 29 at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session.
* Original Article:
https://people.com/marijuana-user-6-times-more-likely-to-have-a-heart-attack-11699076