A recent study by French scientists has revealed that smoking cannabis triples the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The research, which tracked over 1,300 patients in intensive care units across France, indicates that those who use cannabis face nearly three times the risk of experiencing a severe cardiovascular event.
The study found that patients who used cannabis alone had almost double the risk of suffering a cardiovascular incident compared to those who did not use the drug. This increased risk highlights the importance of hospitals screening emergency room patients for recreational drug use.
Experts have previously suggested that THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response. This response raises heart rate and blood pressure, which over time can damage the heart and increase the likelihood of severe cardiovascular problems.
The researchers monitored 1,392 patients admitted to 39 intensive care units in France over a two-week period in April 2021. Among them, 11 percent (157) tested positive for recreational drug use, with 136 having used cannabis. The remaining 21 patients tested positive for substances like heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, or MDMA.
Follow-up over a year showed that 7 percent (94) of these patients experienced a serious cardiovascular event, including death. Among the 713 patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome, 14 percent (96) had a positive recreational drug test, and 7 percent (50) suffered serious cardiovascular events.
The study’s computer modeling revealed that recreational drug use was associated with a threefold increase in the risk of serious cardiovascular events. MDMA was found to pose the highest risk, with a likelihood 4.1 times greater than non-drug users, followed by heroin at 3.6 times and cannabis at 1.8 times.
Dr. Raphael Mirailles, a study author from Hospital Lariboisiere in Paris, emphasized the need for systematic screening for recreational drug use in intensive care units. Despite current guidelines not recommending such screenings, Dr. Mirailles advocates for their implementation to improve risk assessment and patient care.
