Marijuana Use and Cardiovascular Disease 🍃♥️
Yesterday was 4/20 so let’s take a look at a review article on marijuana’s effect on cardiovascular disease (CVD) published in the Journal of American College of Cardiolgoy in January 2020. Here are the highlights (no pun intended)
💔 Epidemiological studies have shown a temporal link between marijuana use and heart attacks. In 3,882 patients who had a heart attack, 3% smoked weed within the past year. 37 of that 3% smoked within 24 hours and 9 within 1 hour of suffering a heart attack, respectively
💓Abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias, can occur with marijuana use. Weed can increase the heart rate and release catecholamines (adrenaline). One observational study of 2,459,856 marijuana users found 3% had arrhythmias- mostly atrial fibrillation (AF)
🧠 It has also been associated with increased stroke risk, peripheral artery disease, and cardiomyopathy (weak heart muscle)
💊 Weed (i.e. the marijuana) can also interact with medications by inhibiting the CYP 450 family
✅ Ultimately, observational studies suggest potential associations with marijuana use and CVD but lack robust levels of evidence. Hence I am weary of anyone who touts marijuana or CBD as a miracle cure for anything. It may have specific uses but with regard to CVD the jury is out. We need more robust studies but few randomized control trials (RCT) have or will likely occur due to its Schedule I federal drug designation as a controlled substance and a general lack of homogeneity of the drug itself
🔑 Patients at high-risk of CVD should avoid or minimize marijuana use
To view the original journal article click here: http://www.onlinejacc.org/content/accj/75/3/320.full.pdf?download=true