Study finds link between marijuana use and cardiovascular disease
arstechnica.com
arstechnica.com
"Air pollution and cardiovascular health in South Asia: A comprehensive review"
> The multivariate survey‐adjusted logistic regression analysis of the entire sample did not reach a significant association between daily cannabis use and CHD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.16 [95% CI, 0.98–1.38]; P=0.09)
But there does seem to be one for strokes
> Among those who had never used tobacco cigarettes and had never used e‐cigarettes, cannabis use was not associated with CHD or MI but was associated with stroke (aOR, 2.24 [95% CI, 1.31–3.83]) versus tobacco‐adjusted odds in the whole sample (aOR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.20–1.68])
Study https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.123.030178
It would be interesting if they included people who don't smoke (edibles) and people who use dry herb vapes (mostly convection).
If they're related, I wouldn't be surprised if the effect was indirect. Part of me suspects it's just from a reduction in physical activity, which wouldn't be influenced much by the method of ingestion.
But you should note that this study also contains the following claim:
> The multivariate survey‐adjusted logistic regression analysis of the entire sample did not reach a significant association between daily cannabis use and CHD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.16 [95% CI, 0.98–1.38]; P=0.09)
Which is only one point. But it does illustrate the potential complexity of the interaction, and that we are a long way from establishing a clear causal chain.
I do note though, in the study, that the important summary Table 1 shows percentages for heart attack ("myocardial infarction") as 3.6% (3.1–4.1) for daily cannabis users, 2.9% (2.6–3.3) for non-daily cannabis users, and 3.7% (3.6–3.8) for non-cannabis users.
Other factors must be taken into account, then, to result in the study's final claim, because obviously, 3.7% is more than 3.6%. Other factors (also reflected in Table 1) such as obesity - 25.5% for daily cannabis users, 33.0% for non cannabis users - and diabetes - 6.1% for daily cannabis users, vs 11.2% for non cannabis users (!).
But those other factors are not exactly negligible, in the bigger picture. Quiet the opposite, one must surmise. There also seems to be a good deal of self-reporting behind the study, which I must assume brings with it a lot of confounding factors such as the socioeconomics of diagnosis ("more affluent people are more likely to have an official diagnosis"). There does seem to be a lot going on here.
I feel like that should be looked into, especially since stoners are eating all sorts of unhealthy food in the first place, you think they'd have the higher rates.
is getting ready to eat a pizza
These articles keep making THC sound as though it's the worse thing imaginable, but in reality, I believe it's probably better than alcohol overall.
> But, the researchers do note that many studies have linked the use of cannabis to chronic pain, insomnia, and anxiety—all of which have also been associated with cardiovascular disease.
Aren't those all exactly things people take cannabis FOR? Almost makes me feel like there's a political agenda.
Would also like to see the impact of consumption method. I use a "dry herb" vape so I don't inhale combustion products, and there is effectively _zero_ literature on these vapes. If these results are replicated with a vape like that which I use, I think it would certainly influence my thoughts on continuing or cessation.
"In the new study, led by Abra Jeffers of Massachusetts General Hospital, researchers were able to do two additional analyses: one that looked at cardiovascular disease risk in people who use cannabis but had never used tobacco products and a second one that looked at people who used cannabis but had never used tobacco products or e-cigarettes. Without tobacco use, the higher odds of heart attack and stroke persisted for people who used cannabis. For those without tobacco or e-cigarette use, only the higher odds of stroke remained."
Are't e-cigarettes tobacco products?
Inhaling smoke is just flat out not good for you.
Vaping is not good for your lungs. There is little actual study on whether it’s worse than smoking, especially in the long term.
I do agree that some vaporizer companies claim it is safe, and those companies are lying.
I don’t personally care if you choose to vape (except indoors in public spaces, or in highly congested outdoor places), and support legal cannabis, but you also probably should be careful about many of the claims of “safety” these products are making. There’s little evidence to suggest they’re safe, and no long term study at all. Anecdotes of the chemicals you are coating your lungs in are not particularly great, though.
I agree it’s worse than doing nothing, but I am curious if herb vaporizers end up being similar to edibles in harm levels. Especially herb grown in an environment with no pesticides, etc.
And a tastier and more pleasant high, generally. I like the ones with an all-glass or metal air path, generally, though the storz and bickle products are well regarded.