Cannabis Use Linked to Increased Heart Attack Risks in Young Adults

As more states legalize marijuana, recent research has raised important health concerns about its use, particularly regarding heart health. Studies indicate that cannabis may increase the risk of heart attacks, particularly among certain populations.

Two recent studies, highlighted in a release by the American College of Cardiology, reveal alarming correlations between cannabis use and cardiac events. Specifically, these studies focus on young, otherwise healthy individuals.

Study Overview and Findings

One of the featured studies analyzed data from over 4.6 million participants, while the other was an extensive review of twelve different studies involving more than 75 million individuals. This makes it the largest investigation to date examining the relationship between cannabis consumption and heart attack incidence.

The results will be presented at the ACC’s Annual Scientific Session, set for March 29 to 31 in Chicago, and will also appear in the journal JACC Advances.

Heart Attack and Stroke Risks Among Young Adults

Researchers discovered that healthy cannabis users under the age of fifty were more than six times more likely to experience a heart attack compared to non-users. The statistics regarding stroke risk were equally striking; these young users had a fourfold increased risk of stroke and a doubled likelihood of heart failure. Additionally, they faced a threefold increase in the risk of mortality due to cardiac events.

The Immediate Risk Following Cannabis Use

One study specifically noted that the risk of these severe outcomes peaked within one hour of using cannabis. Interestingly, all study participants exhibited no prior heart conditions, did not use tobacco, maintained healthy blood pressure and cholesterol, and had no diabetes history.

Understanding the Mechanisms

While the exact mechanisms by which cannabis affects heart health remain unclear, researchers propose several possibilities. Cannabis may disrupt heart rhythm regulation, elevate oxygen demand in heart muscles, and contribute to endothelial dysfunction. This dysfunction hinders blood vessels’ ability to relax and expand, thereby affecting blood flow.