Cannabis use may cause heart attacks: Peer reviewed study

xtsho

xtsho

Well-Known Member
Interesting study.

Regular use of cannabis appears to dramatically increase the heart-attack risk of young adults, states a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

The peer-reviewed study used survey data on health risks and chronic health conditions from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, zeroing in on cannabis use in people between 18 and 44 years of age.

Myocardial infarction, or heart attack, was “more frequent among recent cannabis users relative to non-users,” the research found, leading to the conclusion that using cannabis more than four times per month raised the risk of heart attack in young adults.

www.oregonlive.com

Frequent cannabis use may be causing heart attacks in young adults: new study

“What you end up having,” Dr. Karim Ladha said, “is this mismatch of oxygen supply and demand which fundamentally leads to heart attacks.”
www.oregonlive.com www.oregonlive.com

www.cmaj.ca

Recent cannabis use and myocardial infarction in young adults: a cross-sectional study

Background: Cannabis use is increasing among young adults, but its effects on cardiovascular health are poorly understood. We aimed to assess the association between recent cannabis use and history of myocardial infarction (MI) in young adults (aged 18–44 yr). Methods: We performed a...
www.cmaj.ca www.cmaj.ca
 
Psyphish

Psyphish

Well-Known Member
I wonder if adding CBD to the mix and vaping instead of combusting would do anything to those numbers.

[edit] Quote from another thread. I'm personally not worried since I only use small amounts and only vaporize.

nuskool89 said:
More reefer madness. More propaganda

Article:

globalnews.ca

Cannabis use doubled heart attack risk in young adults, study shows - National | Globalnews.ca

While smoking was the most common form of consumption, vapourizing and edibles also increased the risk of heart attack, according to data from the U.S.
globalnews.ca globalnews.ca

Full paper:

www.cmaj.ca

Recent cannabis use and myocardial infarction in young adults: a cross-sectional study

Background: Cannabis use is increasing among young adults, but its effects on cardiovascular health are poorly understood. We aimed to assess the association between recent cannabis use and history of myocardial infarction (MI) in young adults (aged 18–44 yr). Methods: We performed a...
www.cmaj.ca www.cmaj.ca

The person who wrote the article didn't even bother to read the study.

1. Contrary to the alleged quote, it EXPLICITLY says that the increased odds of a heart attack for people who vape or ingest is NOT STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT. Only statistically significant increased risk was for smokers. Would have taken the author 5 minutes to verify this. Site is a joke.
From the study:

"Although a similarly elevated odds of history of MI was observed across methods of recent cannabis consumption, only smoking as a primary method achieved statistical significance."

2. What's even worse is that in the "Limitations" section the study authors say:

"We were unable to differentiate between participants who began using cannabis before having an MI, and those who began using cannabis after having an MI."
That's a pretty big limitation. They do some hand waiving to claim that there conclusions are still "plausible," but the study (like most studies covered in the press) is obviously junk. I don't care one way or another whether marijuana causes heart attacks but this study doesn't say what the article claims it does re vaping and eating and is, in any event, total garbage.

3.The cherry on top is this line:

"Cannabis users were more likely to be male, unmarried, cigarette as well as e-cigarette smokers and heavy alcohol drinkers, the data showed."
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xtsho

xtsho

Well-Known Member
Rurumo said:
doesn't surprise me at all
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I just found the study and shared it. But with the increase in strength and products like concentrates it is possible that adverse health effects could occur. Smokers have come a long way from smoking a joint of flower. It's like drinking beer vs grain alcohol. A few beers is one thing. A few glasses of 190 proof grain alcohol is another thing.

"Part of this increased risk could be attributable to cannabis products becoming stronger in recent years, CNN points out in a recent report, with new cannabis strains producing “dramatic increases in THC [tetrahydrocannabinol] content.”"
 
Rurumo

Rurumo

Well-Known Member
Anything that increases your heart rate would have an effect on someone with a pre-existing heart issue. Like the high school athletes that occasional drop dead due to unknown congenital heart defects, etc. Probably whey this is happening specifically with "young" people. The blood oxygen aspect is interesting too.
 
curious2garden

curious2garden

Well-Known Mod
Staff member
Rurumo said:
Anything that increases your heart rate would have an effect on someone with a pre-existing heart issue. Like the high school athletes that occasional drop dead due to unknown congenital heart defects, etc. Probably whey this is happening specifically with "young" people. The blood oxygen aspect is interesting too.
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I worried about supraventricular tachycardia's leading to infarction and other embolic issues. I figured we have had cardiac deaths from Cannabis for years. Just untracked because no one would admit use and we don't test for that usually. I'm retired and out of the game but it's interesting to see. Good find @xtsho
 
Thundercat

Thundercat

Well-Known Member
I read the article and the beginning of the actual study page, I might hypothesize another idea.

What if the people that use cannabis also tend to do other things that don’t help with heart conditions. Like eating fast food/junk food, perhaps less exercise and the possibly of smoking cigarettes or drug use.

I know in the abstract of the study they mention taking into account lifestyle and comorbidity factors. But really I’m curious how they did that accurately.

When the people doing the study make up the methods for reaching the results they are focused on reaching its not hard to get the outcome you want......

Just a thought.
 
PopAndSonGrows

PopAndSonGrows

Well-Known Member
Thundercat said:
I read the article and the beginning of the actual study page, I might hypothesize another idea.

What if the people that use cannabis also tend to do other things that don’t help with heart conditions. Like eating fast food/junk food, perhaps less exercise and the possibly of smoking cigarettes or drug use.

I know in the abstract of the study they mention taking into account lifestyle and comorbidity factors. But really I’m curious how they did that accurately.

When the people doing the study make up the methods for reaching the results they are focused on reaching its not hard to get the outcome you want......

Just a thought.
Click to expand...
I think the study just assesses the cannabis variable, not all other aspects of a person's life. Fair point though, most young regular cannabis users do seek faster and less healthy meal choices.
 
Thundercat

Thundercat

Well-Known Member
PopAndSonGrows said:
I think the study just assesses the cannabis variable, not all other aspects of a person's life. Fair point though, most young regular cannabis users do seek faster and less healthy meal choices.
Click to expand...
This is from the method on the study page. “using a weighted logistic regression model that adjusted for demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, health-related behaviours, concomitant substance use and other comorbidities.”

But really how accurately and what are they doing to make those adjustments.
 
xtsho

xtsho

Well-Known Member
Thundercat said:
I read the article and the beginning of the actual study page, I might hypothesize another idea.

What if the people that use cannabis also tend to do other things that don’t help with heart conditions. Like eating fast food/junk food, perhaps less exercise and the possibly of smoking cigarettes or drug use.

I know in the abstract of the study they mention taking into account lifestyle and comorbidity factors. But really I’m curious how they did that accurately.

When the people doing the study make up the methods for reaching the results they are focused on reaching its not hard to get the outcome you want......

Just a thought.
Click to expand...
I completely agree with you. Lifestyles have changed over the years. So many people live sedentary lives. I'm just shocked at how unhealthy people are becoming. Gaming and online activities have replaced a day of hiking, a good walk, or other physical activities. And then there is the big elephant in the room that so many want to ignore and that is diet. Americans have some of the most unhealthy eating habits in the world. Sugar, salt, and fat make up half of many peoples diets. Fresh fruits and vegetables are some kind of foreign entity. People don't cook but instead get the combo meal at the drive-thru.

So yes those factors need to be looked at. Also the potency of some of the cannabis specifically the concentrates. I won't smoke that stuff myself as It just always felt like it was too much and seemed like it could potentially be harmful.
 
Rurumo

Rurumo

Well-Known Member
sdd420 said:
So many people have been smoking weed for their whole lives without heart attack how do you explain that? And no problem with lungs either
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Even if it doubles your risk, people aren't going to start dropping like flies. Not many 20-44 year olds are having heart attacks each year, so a doubling of the risk doesn't really mean much. I just finished reading the study and honestly it was very well done. I also appreciated how upfront and honest the authors were about the limitations of the study. And, as others have mentioned, there was a rather big difference between smoking and vaping/edibles.
 
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