Since smoking weed became legal in Malta, more and more people are asking about the potential impact it can have on their health. In general, there is a stigma attached to the plant and the perception is that it will impact you negatively.
As someone who has seen the benefits of CBD (derived from weed) and because it’s my job, I spent some time researching the facts of the impact of smoking weed on our cardio abilities.
It is important to stress that the research assumes smoking weed alone and without tobacco. If you smoke with tobacco you have the added benefits of smoking cigarettes…i.e. you’re going to die before you should.
In general, the long term effects of smoking weed on cardiovascular performance are not yet fully understood. However, some research suggests that long-term marijuana use may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
A study published in the American Journal of Medicine in 2017 found that long term marijuana users had a higher risk of hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors, such as high cholesterol and obesity. Additionally, a study published in the International Journal of Cardiology in 2018 found that long term weed use was associated with a higher risk of stroke and heart attack.
In terms of short term effects, smoking weed can temporarily increase heart rate and blood pressure. This can be dangerous for people with existing cardiovascular conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart disease. Additionally, smoking weed can decrease oxygen levels in the blood, which can be dangerous for people with existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma or COPD.
Obviously there are lots of additional opinions but research wise, it’s a pretty consistent message. There are risks but more research needs to be done to fully understand them.
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