Individuals struggling with marijuana addiction have a higher risk of cardiovascular disorders, such as heart attacks and strokes, according to new medical studies. According to The New York Post, the study published in the peer-reviewed journal ‘Addiction’ found that individuals who use cannabis have a 60% increased risk of getting their first cardiovascular episode.
The study found that Canadians with cannabis use disorders have a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular difficulties than those without such diseases, however, it does not prove a causal link.
The study, which included an eight-year review of data from over 60,000 Canadians, suggests that this addiction may be underdiagnosed. Lead author Dr. Anees Bahji was quoted by The New York Post as saying, “Our study doesn’t provide enough information to say that cannabis use disorder causes adverse cardiovascular disease events, but we can go so far as to say that Canadians with cannabis use disorder appear to have a much higher risk of cardiovascular disease than people without the disorder.”
The study indicated that between January 2012 and December 2019, 2.4 percent of patients with the illness had their first cardiovascular disease incident, compared to only 1.5 percent in the control group. Peripheral vascular disease, heart attacks, and strokes were among the incidents.
Even people who were initially thought to be healthy due to the absence of recognized medical conditions, prescriptions, and occasional doctor visits faced a 1.4-fold increased risk of developing heart problems. This increased risk may be linked to these participants’ self-perceived health, which may cause them to miss early symptoms of decreasing cardiovascular health.
Frequent marijuana use elevates the risk of heart disease
This study supports previous research that has identified potential health hazards connected with frequent cannabis usage.
According to research presented earlier this year to the American College of Cardiology, regular marijuana usage is associated with an elevated risk of heart disease. Furthermore, people who use marijuana on a daily basis are more likely to acquire coronary artery disease than non-users.
Following recreational marijuana legalization in 2021, an estimated 2.7 million New Yorkers were reported to use it at least once a month. Several experts encourage marijuana users to communicate this information to their healthcare doctors.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the top cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for almost one in every five fatalities in the United States, with someone dying from it every 33 seconds.
