Marijuana Use May Raise Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke

Related Encyclopedia • Alzheimer's Disease • Aneurysms • Angina Pectoris • Angiogram More... Related Healthscout Videos Importance of Good Nutrition Controlling Incontinence Preventing Heart Disease the Easy Way Lifestyle Changes for Heart Disease Prevention and Treatment More... Related Animations • Alzheimer's Disease Video Animation • Angioplasty • Coronary Bypass Surgery • Erectile Dysfunction More... Related Drug Information • Accupril • Actonel • Altace • Avapro More... Related News Articles • It's a Whole New Outlook for Cataract Patients • Could Chinese Herb Be a Natural Viagra? • Gradual Exercise Best After Joint Replacement • Extended Work Absences May Signal Risk of Death More...

Page:  << Prev | 1 | 2

"It is an interesting study, but I don't think it is particularly profound," said Dr. Christopher Granger, a professor of medicine at Duke University who has done studies of risk factors in cardiovascular disease. "It looks at a relatively small number of people and the relationship between marijuana and this particular protein in the blood stream. There is a relationship, but there is far from proof that it is cause-and-effect, and if it is cause-and-effect that it would have an effect on the people using marijuana."

The study "does lift us to a new level of understanding about marijuana use, that it may have a real impact on the way people who use marijuana metabolize food, showing that it could have an adverse effect on cholesterol," Granger said.

"I consider this study exploratory, by definition, because of the technique they used, sort of a shotgun approach," said Dr. Kenneth Mukamal, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School who has studied the effects of marijuana use on cardiovascular disease. "They chose this protein out of a range of thousands of possibilities, so there is a chance you find something just by luck."

Text Continues Below

---

The effects of marijuana on the cardiovascular system are still uncertain, Mukamal said. "It has negative effects on heart rate and may even trigger heart attacks," he said. "But in mice, it apparently prevents atherosclerosis. Whether it is good or bad remains a question."

More information

The medical pros and cons of marijuana are described by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Page:  << Prev | 1 | 2