Cannabis as a possible risk for heart problems

This is shown by a nationwide study in Denmark, which was published yesterday in the “European Heart Journal”. An arrhythmia occurs when the heart beats too slowly, too quickly or irregularly. Recreational use of cannabis is also associated with cardiovascular disease.

However, there is little research on the side effects of medical cannabis. A study has now been carried out by Anders Holt from the University Hospital of Copenhagen. It included data from 5,391 patients who were prescribed cannabis for chronic pain. The researchers compared this group with 26,941 patients who also suffered from chronic pain but did not receive cannabis for treatment.

Risk increases with previous illnesses

The data showed that patients who received medical cannabis had a 0.8 percent risk of developing a cardiac arrhythmia within 180 days of use. This risk was more than twice as high as that for patients with chronic pain who did not use cannabis.

The risk of cardiac arrhythmias increased the most among people over 60 years of age and among those who had already been diagnosed with cancer or heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

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