Using marijuana raises the likelihood of heart failure by over one-third, according to two recent studies. A research group affiliated with the American Heart Association asserts that the daily consumption of marijuana elevates this danger by 34%.

Marijuana use increases risk of cardiovascular events

Principal author of the study, Dr. Yakubu Bene-Alhasan, a resident medical practitioner at Medstar Health, said that marijuana consumption does not come without health-related apprehensions, and their study delivers additional evidence linking its utilization to cardiovascular ailments. Bene-Alhasan added that previous research has shown connection between cannabis uses and diseases such as coronary artery disease ad atrial fibrillation, the cause of heart failure.

Scientists examined a cohort of 156,999 individuals, with an average age of 54, over a span of four years. At the commencement of the research, all subjects were devoid of heart failure. Nevertheless, upon conclusion, 2 percent (2,958) of the participants exhibited heart failure.

The findings remained consistent irrespective of age, sex assigned at birth, or a history of tobacco consumption. Nonetheless, it should be noted that the researchers lacked information concerning the consumption of cannabis or tobacco by the participants.

In a subsequent study, when the research group investigated coronary artery disease, the likelihood of heart failure decreased from 34% to 27%. This indicates that coronary artery disease could be a potential route through which regular marijuana consumption may contribute to the development of heart failure.

Individuals with hypertension at risk of heart related problems

A study involving 28,535 cannabis users who had heart risk factors, such as high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes, revealed that 20 percent of them had a higher likelihood of experiencing major heart or brain-related health issues when hospitalized, in comparison to non-cannabis users. Additionally, marijuana users exhibited a higher incidence of heart attacks.

The lead study author, Dr. Avilash Mondal, emphasized the importance of comprehending the cardiovascular risks associated with increasing cannabis use in the United States, particularly among older adults.

In older adults with cannabis use disorder, it is crucial to be cautious of potential heart and stroke events.