With widespread cannabis consumption on the rise, more studies are finally coming out that evaluate how cannabis affects different parts of the body, either positively or negatively.
While there are benefits to consuming cannabis, a recent study by the American Heart Association has shown a link between cannabis consumption in older adults and a 20% greater risk of heart attack or stroke when hospitalized than non-users. It also found that daily users are more likely to develop heart failure.
The study was presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions and has not yet been published. They intentionally excluded cannabis users who also used tobacco products to understand better how cannabis specifically affects the heart, lungs, and blood vessels.
The study also found negative effects of cannabis on people with chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. While cannabis has been known to lower blood pressure in the short term, which can be beneficial in certain circumstances, long-term use can actually lead to higher blood pressure, which can cause more health and cardiovascular issues down the line.
A second study by the National Institute of Health found that daily cannabis use increases the risk of heart failure, which happens when the heart stops efficiently pumping oxygenated blood through the body. According to the CDC, about 6.2 million Americans currently suffer from heart failure.
Researchers stated that these findings indicate a serious need for more research into cannabis and its effects on the body, especially since cannabis use among seniors age 65 and older doubled between 2015 and 2018.
I would like to see more research into the difference between smoking cannabis and consuming it in other forms, such as edibles and oils, and how that can affect the heart. An important distinction would be to see if the heart issues have to do with THC consumption in general, or if inhaling smoke from a paper joint or pipe has more to do with it. Regardless, cannabis use is not going down anytime soon, and researchers will have no choice but to continue studying its effects on our bodies and overall health.
The bottom line: don’t skip your annual physical and keep your cannabis use moderate. It’s a great tool for relieving many types of physiological and psychological symptoms, but it’s not without negative effects.