Regular Weed Smoking Seems to Increase Cardiovascular Disease Risk, Study Shows

A new study has found that people who smoke cannabis more than once a month have an increased risk of heart disease and heart attack.

The links between weed and poor heart health have already been identified, but the latest research sheds more light on the mechanisms behind the relationship, as well as analyzing data from a huge sample: half a million individuals.

The study found that inflammation in the cells that line the insides of blood vessels, as well as atherosclerotic plaques, can be caused by weed's psychoactive component.

The cardiovascular system can be adversely affected by marijuana use, according to a Biologist Mark Chandy.

Our studies of human cells and mice clearly show how a damaging cascade of genes starts in the blood vessels. It is not a drug that is benign.

The records of half a million people in the UK Biobank project were involved in the human part of the study. People who smoked weed more than once a month were more likely to have a heart attack.

It was found that cannabis users were more likely to have their first heart attack before the age of 50. Premature heart attacks can increase the risk of future heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems.

The study was able to control for other factors like age, body mass index and sex. It is possible to identify cannabis use as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

The number of inflammatory molecules in the blood of volunteers rose significantly after smoking a cannabis cigarette. Heart attacks can be caused by inflammation.

There were additional tests that showed the effects of the drug on the cells in the lab and on the mice. It all adds up to a pretty comprehensive association.

CB1 is a cannabinoid in the human brain. The researchers used machine learning models to look for CB1 antagonists, which could limit the binding when thereceptor becomes overactive.

They were able to identify genistein, a naturally occurring molecule in soybean that seems to block the harmful effects of THC in mice, while keeping the ones that are beneficial for medical use.

Increased anxiety and mood disorders have prevented scientists from using CB1 antagonists in the past, but the early signs are that these problems might not appear with genistein.

We didn't see any blocking of the normal painkilling or sedating effects of THC in the mice that contribute to marijuana.

genistein is a safer drug than previous CB1 antagonists. 99% of it stays outside the brain, so it shouldn't cause any adverse side effects.

The next step is to run human clinical trials to see if genistein can reduce the risk of heart disease in weed smokers. Future studies could look at the effects of cannabinoids in cannabis that don't have the same effects as THC.

In the United States, it is strictly regulated for medical research use. The long-term health effects of regular weed smoking are largely unknown.

The long-term effects of legalized cannabis on cardiovascular health will not be seen for decades, according to researchers. Further study is going to be important.

Genistein works well to mitigate marijuana-caused damage of the vessels, and it could be a way for medical marijuana users to protect themselves from a cardiovascular standpoint.

The research has been published.