Smoking pot Risks Heart Attack, Stroke

Ivanhoe Newswire

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Scientists using a new technique for measuring proteins may have uncovered a link between heavy marijuana use and heart attack and stroke.

The active chemical in marijuana known as THC has been linked to impaired learning and memory in previous research. But now, a new study has established a possible connection between persistent, heavy marijuana use and blood proteins that raise the risk of heart attack and stroke.

By using a protein chip that can potentially identify new target proteins, the researchers discovered significant increases in an apolipoprotein called apoC-111 in people who were long term, heavy marijuana users. This particular protein is involved with the transport of triglycerides and delays their breakdown. The increases in apoC-111 paralleled rises in triglyceride levels.

According to the studys authors, although we dont understand how heavy marijuana use might be doing this, it might be one reason why some users have increased risks of heart attack and stroke.

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SOURCE: Molecular Psychology, published online May 13, 2008

Last updated 5/14/2008.

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