Although the effects of marijuana on the cardiovascular system remain largely unknown, a new study led by Amitoj Singh, professor of cardiology at the University of San Lucas, in Bethlehem (USA) suggests that the use of marijuana can double the risk of stress cardiomyopathy , a condition where the heart muscles quickly and severely weaken. The research has been presented to the American Heart Association in New Orleans.
Stress cardiomyopathy is popularly known as “broken heart syndrome” because it can be caused by extreme emotional factors, such as pain, fear, surprise, and anger, and it is a heart failure that has the same symptoms as myocardial infarction but without its serious consequences.
For their research, the experts examined 33,343 people who were admitted to the hospital with stress cardiomyopathy between 2003-2011. Of these patients, 210 also used marijuana. The tests revealed that those who used the drug were more than twice as likely to develop stress cardiomyopathy than those who did not. Younger people and men were more likely.
However, even after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, marijuana users were more likely to have cardiac arrest during stress cardiomyopathy than non-users. Thus, marijuana users had a 2.4% risk of having cardiac arrest, compared with a 0.8% risk in non-users.
” This development of stress cardiomyopathy in young patients who used marijuana suggests a possible link that needs to be investigated further ,” says Sahil Agrawal, co-author of the work.
“If you are using marijuana and develop symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath, you should be evaluated by a health care specialist to make sure you are not suffering from stress cardiomyopathy or another heart problem,” he concludes.
