Cannabis’ growing legalisation in certain regions for both medicinal and recreational purposes has made it mainstream and accessible, with people often seeing it as harmless. But as usage rises, so do concerns among the medical community about its long-term impact on health, particularly cardiovascular health.
However, this has raised serious questions about what regular use might be doing to our hearts. One study, small but insightful, looked into the vascular health of cannabis users. The findings? Not great.
Healthy individuals with satisfactory blood test results who regularly smoked marijuana or consumed THC-laced edibles were found to have early signs of cardiovascular disease that mirrored what is typically seen in tobacco smokers.
In a group of 55 adults, the study observed a worrying trend. “We found that vascular function was reduced by 42% in marijuana smokers and by 56% in THC-edible users compared to nonusers,” lead study author Dr. Leila Mohammadi, an assistant researcher in cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco, told CNN Health.
So, even if you are choosing a pot brownie over a puff, do not think your arteries are doing fine. This study found that chronic cannabis smoking and THC ingestion both led to endothelial dysfunction, meaning your blood vessels are not doing their job well. Though the damage happens through different mechanisms, the result looks eerily similar to the harm caused by regular tobacco use.
What is particularly interesting is that in lab tests, the blood serum from marijuana smokers (but not edible users) also messed with nitric oxide production in cultured endothelial cells. Nitric oxide keeps blood vessels relaxed and flowing.
To put it plainly, if your cannabis ritual is as regular as your morning coffee, your heart might be developing issues. Whether you are lighting up or chewing down, the inner lining of your blood vessels called the vascular endothelium may be quietly suffering.
Let’s look at five ways cannabis may be putting your heart at risk:
Compromised blood pressure
Cannabis can cause temporary spikes in blood pressure and heart rate. It is not ideal if your heart was hoping for a peaceful day at work.
Boost in Inflammation
Chronic cannabis use may stimulate inflammation in the blood vessels, making them stiffer and less responsive, which is a red flag for future cardiovascular problems.
Interrupted oxygen
Smoking anything means your lungs get less oxygen, which forces your heart to work harder than usual.
Arrhythmia risks
There is growing evidence that cannabis can trigger irregular heart rhythms, especially in people who already have underlying heart conditions.
Plaque buildup
Repeated cannabis use may encourage the development of arterial plaque, setting you up for strokes or heart attacks down the road.
