According to two new studies recently presented at scientific sessions of the American Heart Association, there is ample evidence that marijuana smoking can be dangerous for people with heart disease. But in an unexpected turn of events, people who use cannabis are less likely to experience sudden kidney failure, the researchers found.
One study found that patients who smoked marijuana and had angioplasty to clear blocked arteries were more likely to have a stroke and bleeding after a human procedure than those who did not use a pot, a study showed. Another study found that more people who survived a heart attack and suffered from marijuana use than those who did not use marijuana for a subsequent heart attack. Both studies were released on Monday.
“Marijuana is becoming more accessible, and patients should be aware of the risks involved [angioplasty]The lead author of the study, a resident of the University of Michigan, Dr. Sang Gune Yu said. “While there is a risk of becoming aware of this, they should not prevent patients from getting this life-saving procedure.”
In fact, four more states passed legal resolutions on recreational marijuana during the 2020 election, including a total of 15 plus the District of Columbia. In addition, 34 states, plus DCs, have legalized medical marijuana.
The new findings are another example of why we need more studies on the effects of marijuana on physical and rest of the body’s health, the U.S. said, adding that its classification by the federal government as a Schedule 1 drug hinders scientific research. .
The research is particularly relevant to older Americans. Heart Disease Is the No. 1 killer and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 50 to 80,000 Americans have a heart attack each year. The majority, or 605,000, have had a heart attack for the first time. According to the American Heart Association, every year U.S. Thousands of patients in have coronary angioplasty – a procedure for blocked arteries that improves blood flow to the heart, according to the American Heart Association. Many of these patients also receive stents, a small, wire mesh tube that helps keep the artery open.
To closely monitor the effects of marijuana on angioplasty results, U.S. and colleagues examined data from 113,477 Michigan patients, of whom 3,970 self-identified as marijuana users. After matching 3,903 users with 3,903 news, the researchers found that more pot smokers experienced bleeding (5.2 percent vs. 3.4 percent) and stroke (0.3 percent vs. 0.1 percent).
An interesting finding that the authors could not explain was that marijuana users were less likely to experience sudden kidney failure.
Is it THC or smoking?
In another study, which analyzed data from a national database, researchers found that patients who had an arterial-clearing procedure after a heart attack had a higher rate of subsequent heart attacks than those who did not use cannabis. , Or 7.2 percent vs. 4.5 percent. The study also made an interesting discovery: the risk factors for heart attack, including hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol – were significantly lower among cannabis users.
Experts contacted by NBC News gave mixed reactions to the new reports.
“I have studied the effects of marijuana and THC for the last 25 years [the psychoactive component in cannabis], And I think the U.S. study raises some important questions, especially since we’ve seen more and more reports of cardiovascular events with respect to marijuana, ”said Dr. Deepak Cyril D’Souza, a professor of psychiatry at Yale University. School of Medicine. “This is a funny paper.”
One question that the chapter cannot answer is whether the increased risks come from marijuana tumors, the THC of marijuana. Or plant-based products come from burning fumes, D’Souza said.
“In our study on THC, we found a very strong increase in heart rate and an effect on blood pressure, which can be quite profound,” said DC Souza. “Our study focused on people who were healthy and young. Extrapolating to someone with aging and vascular problems or other medical problems can be problematic if they use marijuana. “
An instructor at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Board of Doctors for Cannabis Regulation, Dr. Peter Greenspan said that given the completeness of both studies, they have some conflicting findings. On the one hand, researchers are reporting an increase in stroke, bleeding and other heart attacks in people who use cannabis, but on the other hand, they are improving blood vessel risk factors such as hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes, Greenspan said.
Grosspoon, in particular, was struck by a lower rate of kidney failure in people who used marijuana in the U.S. study.
“Through their actions, they have really shown that cannabis reduces kidney damage, which in itself should be a huge headline.”
