Consuming cannabis drastically increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, according to a large study carried out on 430,000 people.
- Consumption of cannabis (smoked, ingested or vaped) drastically increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, even more so if it is daily, according to a large American study carried out among 430,000 people.
- “The more frequent the use, the higher the chances of adverse effects,” according to the study. Thus, the risk of heart attack and stroke would be 25% and 42% respectively higher among daily cannabis users than non-users.
- “Cannabis smoke is not that different from tobacco smoke, with the exception of the psychoactive effect (of THC compared to nicotine), remind the researchers. Our study shows that smoking cannabis, just like smoking tobacco presents major cardiovascular risks.
“People don’t view cannabis use as dangerous for their health. However, previous work has shown that it may be associated with cardiovascular disease. Not to mention that smoking cannabis – the predominant method of consumption – makes you run additional risks because the particles are inhaled.”
This is to more precisely evaluate the “risks” of this soft drug that researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital from Boston, in the United States, carried out a vast epidemiological investigation, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
What is the link between cannabis consumption and cardiovascular problems?
Scientists examined data collected from 430,000 adults aged 18 to 74 between 2016 and 2020, to examine the potential link between their self-reported cannabis use (number of days per month) and their cardiovascular health problems. Among the participants, 87% did not consume it at all, 9% occasionally and 4% daily. Other risk factors were also taken into account, such as smoking, vaping, alcohol consumption, body mass index, level of physical activity and even the risk of pre-existing heart disease.
The results were clear: “Any cannabis use, whether smoked, vaped, or ingested, was associated with a greater number of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, such as coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, or stroke. independent of other risk factors.can we read in a communicated.
Although occasional smokers are also affected, “the more frequent the use, the higher the chances of adverse effects”. Thus, the risk of heart attack and stroke was respectively 25% and 42% higher among daily cannabis users than non-users. Among young adults already at risk for cardiovascular disease, cannabis use was also associated with a 36% increased chance of developing heart conditions.
Smoking cannabis is no less dangerous than smoking tobacco
In view of their results, the researchers draw a parallel between the dangers of cannabis and those of tobacco – two inhaled products which are often mixed in France. “Cannabis smoke is not that different from tobacco smoke, except for the psychoactive effect (of THC versus nicotine), note the researchers. Our study shows that smoking cannabis, like smoking tobacco, presents major cardiovascular risks. This is particularly important because while tobacco consumption is decreasing, cannabis consumption continues to increase.” In France, no less than 46% of adults aged 18 to 64 have already consumed it during their lives, according to the latest Public Health France study on the subject.
