Study Links Cannabis Use to Sixfold Heart Attack Risk in Young Adults

New research suggests cannabis as an under-recognized risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, highlighting significant risks for users under 50 without traditional health issues.

• Cannabis users under 50 are six times more likely to experience a heart attack compared to non-users, according to a study analyzing over 4.6 million participants.
• The study also found increased risks of ischemic stroke (fourfold), heart failure (twofold), and cardiovascular death (threefold) among cannabis users.
• Researchers hypothesize that cannabis may impair heart rhythm, increase oxygen demand in the heart, and disrupt blood vessel function, though exact mechanisms remain unclear.
• The findings, pre-published in JACC: Advances, will be formally presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session later this month.
• Experts emphasize caution in interpreting the results due to limitations, including unaccounted factors like other substance use and insufficient data on cannabis consumption patterns.

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