Study Finds Marijuana Users Have Better Outcomes After Heart Attacks

Fascinating and confusing new news is coming out about marijuana and the heart. A recently published story shows that after suffering a heart attack, adults who consumed marijuana seemed to do better than those who did not consume cannabis. Why is this new study so confusing? It is because previous bodies of research in the Journal of the American Heart Association show that cannabis use can increase a person’s risk of suffering cardiovascular issues and stroke.

So, which is it? Does cannabis increase your risk of suffering a heart attack, or can it help improve your prognosis following a heart attack? Study authors acknowledge the paradox. The new research only highlights the complexities of the cannabis plant and the lack of insight into how the hundreds of chemical compounds in marijuana interact with the human body.

Does Marijuana Use Offer Better Outcomes for Heart Attack Patients?

The findings of a new study seem to suggest that for adults who suffer heart attacks, consuming marijuana may improve their overall outcome. Research indicates that adult heart attack victims between 18 and 80 with a history of cannabis use showed lower risks of complications and lower in-hospital mortality rates. The data shows that those treated for heart attacks between 2001 and 2020 who consumed cannabis experienced fewer incidents of cardiogenic shock, acute ischemic stroke, and cardiac arrest.

Some suggest that chemical compounds in the cannabis plant, cannabinoids, may provide some heart health benefits or, as study authors suggest, “cardioprotection modulated by activation of cannabinoid receptor type 2.”

The new study came out just after previous research indicated that medical marijuana use in older adults may help provide beneficial therapeutic benefits such as promoting better health, well-being, mood, and sleep. Numerous studies have excluded those over 65 from their research pool and clinical trials. However, more older adults are turning to medical marijuana for pain relief and to combat the symptoms of other debilitating conditions associated with the aging process.

The findings of this new heart health study show the need for more clinical research into how marijuana consumption impacts the health and wellness of adults and older individuals, especially those seeking new treatments for what ails them. Study authors also suggest, “This highlights how cannabis remains a poorly understood substance despite a relentless rise in consumption and social acceptance.”

Researchers involved in the new study admit they are surprised by their findings because there is research that indicates marijuana consumption can increase a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular problems, heart attack, and stroke. Study authors say, “The findings of our study reveal a paradox.”

The Heart Attack Paradox

Previous marijuana research has shown that any marijuana consumption was linked to a higher risk for heart attacks and strokes. Those who consume cannabis more frequently have higher odds of suffering cardiovascular issues. The research shows men under 55 and women under 65 who use marijuana had 36 percent higher odds for coronary heart disease, heart attack, or stroke, whether or not they also used tobacco products. While many people assume the link has to do with inhaling the substance, the research focused on those using cannabis by smoking, eating, or vaping marijuana.

The finding of this new study showing that those who suffered heart attacks fared better if they were cannabis consumers is rather shocking. Does cannabis hurt the heart or help it? How do researchers explain how one plant could potentially cause but also help cardiovascular health? The study authors have a few suggestions. First, they say that cannabis users tend to be younger than non-cannabis users, averaging about 51 years old versus nearly 63 years old. They note, “This age difference could underlie the lower prevalence of known cardiovascular risk factors generally associated with advancing age such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, prior CABG, and peripheral vascular disease.”

A Different Health Mechanism

Researchers also suggest that the primary cause of heart attacks suffered by cannabis users may have different underlying causes than those of non-cannabis users. Numerous factors cause heart attacks. Cardiovascular triggers in cannabis users, like an increase in blood pressure, can cause an arrhythmia. That is a separate heart-related problem from obstructing coronary artery disease, which typically occurs in individuals with unhealthy habits such as heavy drinking, poor diet, or a sedentary lifestyle. The study authors suggest, “Our observation that cannabis users were less likely to undergo PCI compared to non-users would suggest that they were less likely to have obstructing coronary artery disease as the underlying cause for their AMI.”

Maybe there is an even more complicated explanation for the heart attack paradox. Cannabis remains a complex and mysterious plant. Research thus far has shown that cannabis contains more than 400 unique chemical compounds. From cannabinoids to terpenes, researchers still understand very little about how these compounds interact with each other and the human body. Some chemical compounds may be associated with heart benefits, while others could contribute to adverse health effects. Chemical compound combinations, dosage, consumption method, and patient age could all play a role in how marijuana hurts and heals the human body and mind.

Without continuing large-scale research, there is no way to tell how or why marijuana consumption leads to positive health benefits in some people and ill effects in others. The study says, “Given that the complex mechanisms by which cannabis achieves immunomodulation remain to be fully studied and understood, the findings of studies similar to ours will hopefully provide the impetus required to drive research in this field even further.”

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