From the Guidelines
Mitigating cardiovascular risks associated with cannabis use requires a cautious approach. To reduce the risk of myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular accident, individuals should limit their cannabis use, especially if they have a history of cardiovascular disease or are at high risk for developing it.
Key Considerations
- Dose-dependent relationship: Cannabis use has a dose-dependent relationship with stroke, and frequent use (more than once a week) increases the risk of stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) 1.
- Cardiovascular risks: Cannabis use is associated with adverse cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction and stroke, particularly in individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions 1.
- THC concentration: The increasing THC concentration in cannabis plants and products may elevate the risk of health problems, including cardiovascular events 1.
Recommendations
- Limit cannabis use: Individuals should limit their cannabis use, especially if they have a history of cardiovascular disease or are at high risk for developing it.
- Monitor cardiovascular health: Regular monitoring of cardiovascular health, including blood pressure and lipid profiles, is essential for individuals who use cannabis.
- Avoid high-THC products: Individuals should avoid using high-THC products, such as cannabis concentrates, which may increase the risk of cardiovascular events.
- Consider alternative treatments: For individuals using cannabis for medical purposes, alternative treatments, such as CBD-based products, may be considered to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events 1.
From the Research
Mitigating Cardiovascular Risks Associated with Cannabis Use
To mitigate cardiovascular risks, such as myocardial infarction (heart attack) and cerebrovascular accident (stroke), associated with cannabis use, consider the following:
- Avoid smoking cannabis, as it may independently provoke myocardial infarction 2
- Consider alternative methods of cannabis use, such as vaping or ingestion, which may be less harmful due to the absence of combustion and certain toxins in cannabis smoke 2
- Be aware of the potential increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and stroke, associated with cannabis use disorder 3
- Note that the risk of adverse cardiovascular events, including acute myocardial infarction and stroke, may not be significantly increased with cannabis exposure, but caution should be exercised due to the heterogeneity of studies 4
- Individuals using cannabis should be screened for cardiovascular disease risk, and appropriate risk reduction strategies should be implemented, as cannabis use is associated with elevated cardiovascular disease risk 5
Cardiovascular Risks and Cannabis Use
Some key points to consider:
- Cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, including angina pectoris and myocardial infarction 2
- The genetic liability to cannabis use disorder is associated with an augmented risk of various cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction and stroke 3
- Cannabis use may be associated with a dose-response relation to a higher risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease 5
- There have been reported cases of cannabis-related myocardial infarction and cardioembolic stroke 6