Like most medicinal substances, cannabis cannabinoids can lead to negative health consequences if overused or used inappropriately. New data suggests that, in some situations, marijuana use may increase the risk of heart attack and heart failure in some individuals. Previous studies have shown benefits of CBD in certain cardiovascular conditions. We explore this information below.

New study: Daily cannabis smoking may contribute to heart failure?

Results of 2 studies conducted independently in 2023 in the United States they suggest, that daily smoking of medical or recreational marijuana may increase the risk of heart attack and heart failure. It has also been observed that daily marijuana smoking may increase the risk of heart and/or brain damage compared to non-smoking controls.

“All of Us” Research Program – Marijuana Smoking and Heart Attack

Researchers followed 156,999 individuals who were free of heart failure at the time of enrollment. Participants completed a survey regarding their frequency of marijuana use and were followed for almost four years (45 months).

The analysis of the results took into account individual demographic and economic factors, alcohol consumption, smoking and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease (including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity).

During the study period, 2,958 people (almost 2%) developed heart failure.

Individuals who reported daily marijuana use had a 34% higher risk of heart failure compared with those who never used marijuana. This risk was the same regardless of age and gender.

In a secondary analysis, when coronary artery disease was added to the study, the risk of heart failure decreased from 34% to 27%, suggesting that coronary artery disease is a pathway through which daily marijuana use may lead to heart failure.

The average age of the study participants was 54 years (in the 50-59 age group, the risk of heart attack or heart failure in the general population totals approximately 5% and is growing significantly with each decade). Over 60% of the surveyed people were women, the study included people from various ethnic groups, most often white people.

Importantly, the individuals studied were using cannabis for non-medical purposes, even though the herb itself was medicinal. Therefore, it can be assumed that these individuals were not following any specific regimen. hemp cannabinoids, smoked unspecified amounts of herb every day.

Another limitation of the study is that it relied on data that did not specify whether the marijuana was inhaled or ingested. According to the researchers, the method of marijuana consumption may significantly influence differences in cardiovascular outcomes.

The effect of smoking marijuana on the heart in people 65+

Cannabis use in the U.S. has nearly doubled since 2015 and is increasing among older adults, so researchers say it's important to understand the potential increased cardiovascular risk that comes with it.

In the second study Researchers evaluated data from the National Hospital Sample 2019, the largest nationwide database of hospitalizations.

Their aim was to check whether people aged 65+ who smoked marijuana and were hospitalized due to diabetes 2, high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol experienced a heart attack, cardiac arrest, arrhythmia or stroke during hospitalization more often than people from the same age and "health" group but did not smoke.

The researchers extracted data on adults over 65 years of age with cardiovascular risk factors who reported not smoking. This group of patients was then divided into two groups: cannabis users and non-users.

The study found that 28,535 cannabis users had risk factors for cardiovascular disease (high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol).

20% individuals had an increased risk of experiencing a serious cardiac or cerebrovascular event during hospitalization compared with the group who did not use cannabis. Furthermore, cannabis users (compared to heavy cannabis users) had a higher incidence of heart attacks (7.6% vs. 6%), high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, respectively.

In this study, most participants were taking hemp cannabinoids by smoking the herb and in a non-medical manner: without consulting a doctor about the doses and types of herb. A large proportion of the people participating in the study showed symptoms of marijuana addiction.

„"The latest research on cannabis use indicates that smoking and inhaling the smoke increases the concentration of carbon monoxide (a poisonous gas) in the blood to a degree similar to that of tobacco smoke. This factor has been linked to heart disease, chest pain, arrhythmias, heart attacks, and other serious health conditions."” – the researchers wrote.

CBD in cardiovascular diseases

Due to its complex nature mechanism of action, CBD may affect the cardiovascular system in various ways. Scientists have reviewed CBD impact on this system in health and disease to determine the potential risk of cardiovascular side effects when using CBD for both medical and wellness purposes.

Though it was found, While CBD has been shown to have vasodilatory and antioxidant properties in the treatment of hypertension, animal studies have shown that it does not affect blood pressure levels in hypertension.

CBD action The blood pressure-lowering effect was observed primarily under stressful conditions. Additionally, many positive effects of CBD have been observed in experimental models:

heart diseases (myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, myocarditis),
stroke,
hypoxic-ischemic cerebral encephalopathy,
sepsis-related encephalitis,
cardiovascular complications of diabetes
ischemic damage to the liver and kidneys.

In these CBD pathological conditions reduces, among other things, organ damage and dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammatory processes, and tissue damage. However, CBD is not yet an approved drug for use in the treatment of diseases cardiovascular.

Other tests focused on the role of the endocannabinoid system in cardiovascular disease. Previous research has shown that one of the many functions of the endocannabinoid system (whose primary role is restoring balance in the body) is regulating heart function, blood pressure, and the proliferation of certain blood cells.

Dysfunction of the endocannabinoid system can drive further dysfunction in the body. Therefore, researchers believe that targeting the endocannabinoid system may have potential benefits in improving current and future treatment strategies aimed at cardioprotection.

Summary

The general conclusion from this brief review of information may be that people who abuse marijuana (especially in the smoked form), who are also at risk of heart attack or heart failure due to comorbidities, have a higher risk of such events than people who do not smoke marijuana.

However, when it comes to taking hemp cannabinoids as recommended by a doctor or using CBD independently but in a balanced way, the situation may be completely different – it may have a beneficial effect on our body, including the cardiovascular system.