Marijuana Linked to Heart Disease and Depression
Chronic marijuana use may affect the heart's health as well as the brain's. A study published yesterday in the journal Molecular Psychiatry found that chronic marijuana users—those who smoke on average nearly every day—may up their risk of both heart attack and stroke. That finding comes on the heels of a government report that linked pot use to psychiatric problems, including depression.
Compared with non-users of the drug, heavy marijuana smokers in the new study had significantly higher levels of a specific protein in their blood known to increase triglycerides, which are fatty molecules linked to vascular and coronary disease risk. Previous studies have tended to focus on marijuana's cognitive, behavioral, and psychoactive effects, including impaired memory and learning deficits. Long-term and chronic marijuana abuse has been associated with adverse effects on the heart, too, says lead author Jean Lud Cadet, a molecular neuropsychiatrist at the National Institutes of Health, but scientists are only beginning to understand how the drug impacts the cardio- and cerebrovascular systems.
The best way to prevent any potential health effects is to refrain from heavy, chronic use, according to George Kunos, an NIH researcher specializing in substance addiction and cardiovascular health, who wasn't involved in the study. He says the increased presence of the protein in heavy marijuana users may also predispose them to metabolic disorders like diabetes. The study did not analyze occasional or recreational use of the drug.
Interventions. Parents who are concerned about possible substance abuse by their teenagers have resources, including these pointers on how to talk with your kids to prevent future use. Though the most recent data show that 4.3 percent of young adults between 18 and 25 use marijuana daily—and only 1.1 percent of teenagers between 12 and 17—understanding peer pressure and social influences on teenage drug abuse can make a world of difference in prevention and treatment. It's also important for parents to be aware of over-the-counter and prescription medicines, like Ritalin, that teenagers may abuse.
Reader Comments
Marijuana is addictive in some people
Hey All.
Marijuana isnt all good news. About 5 to 10 percent of people become dependant on marijuana and have some serious problems quitting.
I run a site called http://www.marijuana-addict.com. Check it out for more information on marijuana dependence and how I try to kick the habit
Smoking pot
I tried pot for the first time when I was 26.... I weighed 485 lbs. and had chronic back injuries that I was taking several class 2 narcs for. I tried pot and within one year I was no longer on ANY pain meds and I hadv lossed over 90 lbs... I am now 37 and am at 275 lbs blood pressure is normal, blood work is perfect and I no longer am strung out on Vicodans or Percosets and have not taken them in over a decade!!!
I no longer am experimenting with pot..... Now Im looking for Grant money to futher MY research!!! LOL
hashish and marijuana same strength ?
I only smoke hashish. Its is all that is available in my country most of the time. There is no mention of hashish in this article. Hashish is made from the trichomes found on the plant. Marijuana is a term used to describe the buds of the plant. Is hashish worse for your health as opposed to marijuana bud ? And what constitutes as heavy use ? 5 hashish joints a day ? Mind you, I almost never manage to afford enough hashish so that I get 5 joints everyday. What about roachoes ? What is a roacho you ask ? This is where you gather the extinguished joints and empty them of whatever marijuana may be left inside. Once this is done you place the mixture into some papers and roll it as normal. Doesn't taste bad, may be less healthy than "fresh" joints but gets you higher.
I used to look at roachoes with disgust. Now I see it as recycling.
hey just doing my bit for the planet :p
p.s I am not from America.
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