People who use cannabis and other recreational drugs are a third more likely to have a heart attack or stroke, alarming new research has found.
Proponents of the drug often claim that marijuana is safe because it is “natural.”
But scientists in France, following more than 1,300 patients in intensive care, found that people who used only cannabis were nearly twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease.
Experts today urged hospitals to screen all emergency room patients for recreational drug use.
Scientists have previously suggested that the active ingredient in cannabis, THC, triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response, increasing heart rate and blood pressure.
Proponents of the drug often claim that marijuana is safe because it is “natural.” But scientists in France, following more than 1,300 patients in intensive care, found that people who took only cannabis were nearly twice as likely to have a cardiovascular event
While some warning signs are easy to recognize, such as severe chest pain, others are more vague and difficult to identify.
Over time, this damages the heart and increases the risk of life-threatening problems, such as a heart attack.
In the study, researchers followed 1,392 patients who were admitted to 39 different intensive care units in France for two weeks in April 2021.
Among them, 11 percent (157) tested positive for recreational drug use, including 136 with cannabis.
The remaining 21 had heroin, cocaine, amphetamines or MDMA found in their bodies.
More than a quarter (28.7 percent) tested positive for two or more of these drugs.
During a one-year follow-up, researchers found that seven percent (94) of patients experienced a serious cardiovascular event, resulting in death.
Of the total of 713 patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome, 96 (14 percent) had a positive recreational drug test and 50 (7 percent) experienced serious cardiovascular events.
Computer modeling found According to the scientists, recreational drug use was “associated with a three-fold increased risk of major cardiovascular events.”
They also discovered that under When tested against recreational drugs, MDMA was found to pose a cardiovascular risk 4.1 times greater than the risk of not using the drug.
Heroin was at 3.6 times and cannabis at 1.8 times.
“Other types of medications did not show a statistically significant association with major cardiovascular events,” the researchers said.
Study author and physician at the Lariboisiere Hospital in Paris, Dr Raphael Mirailles, said: ‘Recreational drug use was associated with a threefold increase in the risk of a major cardiovascular event within a year.’
He added: ‘There is increasing evidence of the worst prognosis associated with recreational drug use, not only in coronary care units but also in conventional intensive care units.
‘Despite the high rate of underreporting of recreational drug use, systematic screening is not recommended by current guidelines.
‘It could improve patient risk stratification and personalized care to promote drug discontinuation. Therefore, systemic screening in intensive care should be considered.’
Scientists are still trying to figure out what causes this cardiovascular risk. It is thought that THC activates the body’s fight-or-flight response, which usually occurs during times of stress or anxiety.
Stroke symptoms are often remembered by this four-letter acronym, FAST. Stroke patients may often droop their face to one side, have difficulty lifting both arms, and slur their speech, while time is of the essence, as immediate treatment for a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke can significantly reduce the risk of a much deadlier major stroke.
Other equally common signs of impending stroke often go unnoticed. These include sudden numbness on one side of the body, sudden dizziness and difficulty swallowing.
When the fight-or-flight response is activated, it leads to an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
Over time, this causes the heart to work harder to pump blood to the rest of the body.
This can lead to damage to the heart and conditions such as heart disease and stroke.
The scientists will present their research on August 31 at the European Society of Cardiology 2024 congress in London.
Latest figures show that cannabis remains the most popular drug among 16- to 59-year-olds in England and Wales.
Last year, use was highest among 20- to 24-year-olds, with official figures showing that nearly one in six people in this age group used drugs.
Last year, 32 deaths in England and Wales and about 300 in the US were attributed to cannabis.
A 2019 study by researchers at Kings College London also found that daily use of high-potency cannabis can increase the risk of psychosis five times.
This comes after alarming data earlier this year revealed that premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks and strokes, have reached their highest level in more than a decade.
The number of heart attacks, heart failure and strokes among people under 75 has fallen significantly since the 1960s, thanks to sharply declining smoking rates, advanced surgical techniques and breakthroughs such as stents and statins.
Today, rising obesity rates and associated health problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes are thought to be one of the main causes.
Slow ambulance response times to category 2 calls in England (which include suspected heart attacks and strokes) and long waits for tests and treatment are also thought to be responsible for the rise, which is also being felt among younger adults.
Despite claims from anti-vaxxers, cardiologists say fears that Covid vaccines have caused a rise in heart problems are completely unfounded.
