June 26, 2025 • 17 mins
Cannabis has moved from the fringes to the mainstream, with dramatically shifting perceptions about its safety. But what does cutting-edge research tell us about its impact on our cardiovascular system?
We're unpacking a groundbreaking study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association that analyzed data from over 434,000 adults across 27 states. The findings are striking: daily cannabis users face 25% higher odds of heart attack and 42% higher odds of stroke compared to non-users, even after adjusting for factors like tobacco use, age, BMI, and diabetes.
Most compelling is what researchers discovered when isolating people who never touched tobacco cigarettes. Rather than disappearing, the associations actually strengthened. Never-smokers who used cannabis daily had 116% higher odds of stroke—more than double the risk. This powerful evidence challenges the idea that cannabis cardiovascular risks are merely from concurrent tobacco use.
The study reveals equally concerning findings for younger adults. Men under 55 and women under 65 who used cannabis daily showed significantly increased odds of premature cardiovascular disease, with stroke risk more than doubling among those who never smoked tobacco.
The biological mechanisms are becoming clearer. Cannabis interacts with endocannabinoid receptors throughout the cardiovascular system, and smoking any plant material introduces harmful particulates that damage blood vessels. With nearly 74% of users consuming cannabis through smoking, this delivery method appears particularly problematic.
As cannabis use increases while perceived risks decrease, understanding these potential health impacts becomes crucial. This isn't about judgment, but empowerment through knowledge. Whether you use cannabis or know someone who does, staying informed about all factors affecting heart health allows for smarter, more proactive wellness decisions.
Want to learn more about incorporating the latest research into your personalized health plan? Call 561-210-9999 to start a conversation about your proactive approach to longevity and wellness.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your supplement regimen or health routine. Individual needs and reactions vary, so it’s important to make informed decisions with the guidance of your physician.
Connect with Us:
If you enjoyed today’s episode, be sure to subscribe, leave us a review, and share it with someone who might benefit. For more insights and updates, visit our website at Lifewellmd.com.
Stay Informed, Stay Healthy:
Remember, informed choices lead to better health. Until next time, be well and take care of yourself.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, team, let's dive deep.
We are tackling a topic that iswell, it's everywhere right now
, legally available in manyplaces and, honestly, the
perception of its risks seems tobe shifting pretty dramatically
.
We're talking about cannabisuse.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
It really is.
It's a subject that's gone fromthe fringes to the mainstream
in a lot of areas, and you'reabsolutely right.
The source material for ourdeep dive today points out that
over the past couple of decades,the prevalence of cannabis use
in the US has gone upsignificantly.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Yeah, and at the same time the perceived risk has
like gone down.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Exactly Simultaneously gone down.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Right.
So maybe you use it, maybefriends use it, or maybe you're
just, you know, seeing it pop upin more conversations.
But regardless of how you feelabout it?
What does the latest sciencesay about its potential impact
on something absolutely criticalyour heart health?
That's our mission today.
We are unpacking a brand newmajor piece of research
published in the highlyrespected Journal of the
(00:56):
American Heart Association.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah, and this isn't some small observational paper
or, you know, a theoreticaldiscussion.
The study draws data from thebehavioral risk Risk Factor
Surveillance System.
That's a massive ongoing healthsurvey run by the CDC.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Okay, brfss yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
This specific analysis looked at information
from over 434,000 US adultssurveyed between 2016 and 2020
across 27 states and twoterritories.
That's a really big data set.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Which you know can lend significant weight to the
findings.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Okay, 434,000 people, that's a serious sample size.
So we're taking this massivestudy and kind of extracting the
absolute most importantinsights it offers on the
connection, or, well, potentialconnection, between cannabis use
and your cardiovascular health.
What exactly did they measurein all of these people?
Speaker 2 (01:47):
So they used a population-based cross-sectional
design.
Now, cross-sectional basicallymeans they took a snapshot in
time.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Right, like a single point.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Exactly.
They looked at all these peopleat one moment and asked them
two main things, bothself-reported First, how often
did they use cannabis in thepast 30 days?
And second, had a healthprofessional ever told them they
had coronary heart disease, hada heart attack, myocardial
infarction or had a stroke?
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Got it.
So it's relying on peopleaccurately reporting their own
health history and theircannabis habits.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
That's right.
It's pretty standard for thesehuge surveys.
But yeah, it's good to keep inmind.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
And a crucial part of the analysis was adjustment.
You know, to try and isolatethe potential effect of cannabis
, they crunched the numbers,accounting for a whole range of
other factors known to affectheart health.
Like what Things?
Like age, sex race, education,BMI, whether someone had
diabetes, alcohol use and,significantly, tobacco use.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Ah, the tobacco piece always key.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Absolutely Controlling for these.
Is vital to see if cannabisstill shows an independent link.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
All right, let's get to the headline findings, then.
What did this study reveal whenthey looked at the big picture,
all adults included in thesurvey ages 18 to 74?
.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Okay, so for this general population, when they
compared people who reportedusing cannabis daily to those
who reported using it not at all, they found statistically
significant associations withseveral major cardiovascular
events.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Okay, give us the number and let's try to break
them down, simply for everyonelistening.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Sure, the adjusted odds ratio, or AOR.
Think of it as a measure of howmuch higher the odds are for
myocardial infarction.
A heart attack right For dailyusers, compared to non-users,
was 1.25.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Okay, 1.25.
So that means daily users hadabout a 25% higher odds of
having had a heart attackcompared to non-users, even
after they did all thatadjusting for other risks.
Correct, a 25% higher oddsisn't like a guarantee you'll
have one, but it's astatistically significant jump.
What about stroke?
Speaker 2 (03:46):
For stroke, the association was actually
stronger.
The AOR was 1.42.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Wow, 1.42.
That's a 42% higher odds ofstroke for daily users compared
to non-users.
That's a pretty notabledifference.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
It is.
And when they looked at acomposite outcome, basically
lumping together coronary heartdisease, heart attack and stroke
, the AOR for daily users was1.28.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
So a 28% higher odds of experiencing any of those
serious events.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Yeah, Now.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
I noticed in the study and you mentioned coronary
heart disease that while therewas an association there, it
didn't quite hit thatstatistically significant mark
in this overall group analysis.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
That's right.
The AOR was 1.16, so itsuggested a trend towards
increased odds of CHD.
But the p-value was 0.09, justslightly over the typical 0.05
cutoff for statistical certainty.
But you know, the links for MIstroke and that combined outcome
were clearly statisticallysignificant.
(04:43):
The study authors are prettyconfident these links aren't
just due to random chance.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
And what's really telling, I think, is they didn't
just look at daily versusnon-use, they looked at the
frequency right.
Did using it more often show astronger link?
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Absolutely.
That's a key point.
They treated the number of daysper month cannabis was used as
a continuous measure and theyreported a clear dose-response
relationship, meaning the moreoften someone reported using
cannabis, the heavier the use.
Essentially, the higher theodds of experiencing these
adverse cardiovascular outcomestended to be.
That kind of gradient reallystrengthens the argument that
(05:16):
the use itself is tied to therisk.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Okay, Okay, Now we have to address the elephant in
the room.
The big question for anydiscussion about cannabis and
smothering risks is this justbecause people who use cannabis
also often smoke tobacco RightFor years that's been the main
counter argument, or at least amajor confounding factor.
This study seems to providesome powerful new data to really
(05:40):
try and isolate that question.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
This is where the study truly offers a unique and,
I think, critical insight.
They performed a separate,specific analysis, focusing only
on the group of respondents whoreported they had never, ever,
used tobacco cigarettes.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Yeah, the never smokers.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Exactly, this is the cleanest way really to see the
association of cannabis use whenyou remove that confounding
factor of tobacco smokinghistory.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
And what happened when they looked only at that
never tobacco smoker group?
Did the associations justdisappear?
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Not at all, not even close.
In fact, daily cannabis use wasstill significantly associated
with increased odds of adversecardiovascular outcomes in this
group.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Really, what were the numbers there?
Speaker 2 (06:18):
For myocardial infarction, the AOR was 1.49.
For stroke, it jumped to aremarkable 2.16.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
2.16.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yep and for the composite outcome, the AOR was
1.77.
Outcome the AOR was 1.77.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Wait, wait, let me just process that You're saying.
The odds ratios, the measure ofincreased risk for MI stroke
and the composite outcome wereactually higher in the group of
people who never smoked tobaccocompared to the analysis of the
overall group that just adjustedfor tobacco use.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Yes, that's exactly what the study found.
It's pretty striking.
For instance, remember, theodds of stroke were 42% higher
for daily users in the overallgroup.
That was AOR 1.42.
Yeah, but in the subset ofpeople who had never touched a
cigarette, the odds were 116%higher.
The AOR was 2.16.
Wow.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
That's a huge difference.
That kind of flips the scripton the idea that the risk is
solely, or even primarily,driven by tobacco use alongside
cannabis.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
It really does.
This study is providing strongevidence for an independent risk
from cannabis itself.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
So cannabis on its own seems to carry risk.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
It appears, so the study authors explicitly
concluded, based on this data,that smoked cannabis and smoked
tobacco might actually carry,and I quote, similar independent
additive risks.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Meaning using either one, especially smoking, it adds
its own separate layer of riskand they can stack up.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
That's the implication.
Using either substance appearsto contribute its own risk to
your cardiovascular health.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Okay, let's shift gears slightly to another
finding that many listenersmight find particularly
surprising the association foundin younger adults.
We often think of heart attackand stroke, as you know, issues
for older folks.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Right, that's a common perception.
The study honed in on aspecific group they defined as
younger adults.
This included men under 55 andwomen under 65.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Why those ages?
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Because these are the age groups typically considered
to be at risk for what's calledpremature cardiovascular
disease, they ran separateanalyses just for this
population segment.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
And were the links still there, even in these
younger people?
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Yes, and they were significant across the board.
In this younger group, Dailycannabis use was significantly
associated with coronary heartdisease AOR 1.30.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Okay, so CHD was significant in this group,
unlike the overall population.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Correct.
Also myocardial infarction AOR1.30.
Stroke AOR 1.56.
So the link holds even inyounger adults.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
And did they look at the never tobacco smokers within
this younger group too?
Speaker 2 (08:46):
They did and, just like with the overall analysis,
they drilled down into thesubset of these younger adults
who had never used tobaccocigarettes.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
The inter-soy.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Pretty much.
Once again, the associationspersisted and were often even
stronger.
In this never tobacco subgroup,for example, the stroke AOR
jumped to 2.40 in younger neversmokers using cannabis daily
2.40.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
So more than double the odds of stroke.
The implication is pretty stark, then.
These findings suggest frequentcannabis use isn't just linked
to heart events later in life,but it might be a significant
risk factor for premature heartdisease in younger people.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Exactly Younger individuals who maybe otherwise
wouldn't be considered high risk.
Yet it challenges the idea thatthis is solely an issue for
later life or only for thosewith a bunch of other major risk
factors already piled up.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
So thinking biologically, why might this be
happening?
Did the study touch onpotential mechanisms?
Briefly, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
The source mentions a couple of possibilities.
First, our bodies haveendocannabinoid receptors
scattered throughout thecardiovascular system.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Compounds in cannabis interact with these, which
suggests a direct biologicalpathway for effects.
Second, thc, the mainpsychoactive component, is known
to have immediate effects onhemodynamics, basically how
blood flows, heart rate, bloodpressure.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
So it can actually change how your heart and
vessels are working, at leasttemporarily.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
blood pressure, so it can actually change how your
heart and vessels are working,at least temporarily, right, and
these acute effects couldpotentially contribute over time
to the observed cardiovascularevents.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
And the method of use seems really important here too
, doesn't it?
You mentioned smoking earlier.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Absolutely critical.
The study points out thatsmoking was by far the
predominant method of cannabisuse.
Among the people they surveyed,nearly 74 percent reported
smoking it.
And that matters, because Well,they note that inhaling
particulate matter and toxinsfrom any burning plant material,
whether it's tobacco orcannabis, can damage blood
vessels and increasecardiovascular risk.
(10:42):
It's the smoke itselfpotentially Makes sense.
They even did a sensitivityanalysis looking specifically at
smoked cannabis use and itshowed very similar significant
associations for MI AOR 1.26,stroke AOR 1.50, and the
composite outcome AOR 1.30.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
So that reinforces that the act of smoking, it is
likely a major contributor tothis observed risk.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
It certainly appears that way, based on this data.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
Okay, let's bring this all back to you, the
listener.
It certainly appears that way,based on this data.
Okay, let's bring this all backto you, the listener.
Why is this deep dive, thisspecific information from this
big study, important for yourlife, for your health awareness
right now?
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Well, the study itself sets the stage perfectly.
As we said at the start,cannabis use is increasing and
the perception that it'scompletely harmless seems to be
growing.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Right, but the science might be telling a
different story, or at least amore nuanced one.
Exactly and, up until recently,getting really large, clean
data on its link to heart healthspecifically independent of
tobacco has been challenging,but this massive recent study
gives us a clearer picture thanperhaps we've had before.
(11:48):
The main takeaway feels prettyundeniable Frequent cannabis use
, particularly daily use, isstrongly linked to a
significantly increased odds ofserious cardiovascular events
like heart attack and stroke.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
And critically.
This study provides powerfulevidence that this link appears
independent of tobacco use.
It's not just the tobacco, thecannabis itself seems to be a
factor, especially when smoked.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Yeah, and that finding that these risks are
seen even in younger individuals, the risk for premature
cardiovascular disease that'sparticularly impactful, I think.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Definitely, the study's clinical implication is
quite direct.
Patients should be screened forcannabis use and advised to
avoid smoking cannabis to reducetheir risk of premature
cardiovascular disease andcardiac events.
That's pretty clear guidancebased on their findings.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
So, armed with this new information from the study,
what do you do?
I mean, it really underscoreshow important it is to consider
all the factors influencing yourhealth, doesn't it?
Especially when it comes topreventing serious issues like
heart attack and stroke?
And, you know, managing youroverall well-being for longevity
Absolutely Understandingpotential risks like these from
(12:55):
reliable research is just acrucial step in taking a
proactive approach to your ownhealth journey.
That's actually a big part ofwhat we focus on in a wellness
context.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
It really is Navigating the latest research,
understanding these potentialrisks and then creating a
personalized plan for health,wellness and longevity based on
solid data.
That's key.
It's all about being informedand having expert guidance to
make the best choices for yourbody and your future health.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Now, this is one very large and significant study,
but, like any research, it'simportant we acknowledge its
limitations, right?
What are a couple that theauthors themselves pointed out?
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Sure, as we mentioned earlier, it's cross-sectional.
It shows an association At onepoint in time cannabis use
linked with reported outcomes,but it doesn't prove direct
cause and effect like, say, arandomized controlled trial
could.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Right Correlation not necessarily causation.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Exactly, although the authors argue that reverse
causality, like someone having aheart attack and then starting
daily cannabis use, is prettyunlikely for these outcomes.
But they do acknowledge thatprospective studies following
people over time are needed fordefinitive proof of causation.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
And the other big one is it relies on self-reported
data right Both for the cannabisuse and the health outcomes.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Yes, and there's always potential for bias with
self-report.
Maybe people under-report theiruse or they don't quite
remember their health historyaccurately, sure.
However, self-reportedcardiovascular disease has been
validated against medicalrecords reasonably well in other
studies.
And, importantly, if peoplewere under-reporting cannabis
use if the actual use is higherthan reported?
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Then the real link could be even stronger.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Exactly.
It would likely make thesefindings more conservative than
they are Meaning.
The true associations couldpotentially be even stronger
than what this study managed todetect.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Okay, so putting it all together, then, the evidence
is certainly growing, seemsmuch stronger now.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
It really is.
This large study addssignificant weight to the
understanding that frequentcannabis use, especially when
smoked, is independentlyassociated with serious
cardiovascular risks like heartattack and stroke.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
And that risk appears tied to how often it's used.
That dose response thing youmentioned.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
Correct, and the findings related to younger
individuals and the potentialfor premature cardiovascular
disease are particularlyeye-opening.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
As the study authors conclude, it's really crucial
for patients, health careproviders and even policymakers
to be fully informed about thesepotential risks, particularly
given the rapidly evolvinglandscape of cannabis use and
public perception.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
This research really highlights how valuable it is to
stay informed about allpotential factors impacting your
health and well-being.
It's not about judgment at all.
It's just about knowledge andmaking empowered choices for
your long-term health goals.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Couldn't agree more Knowledge is indeed power when
it comes to building afoundation for longevity and
vitality.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
So, with these findings in mind, the link
between frequent cannabis useand heart events independent of
tobacco, even showing up inyounger adults what questions
does this raise for you, thelistener, about your own health
choices, about conversations youmight want to have with a
health care professional focusedon wellness and longevity?
Understanding potential riskslike these is just a key part of
(16:15):
a truly comprehensive approachto health.
If you're looking for guidanceon navigating health information
like this, understanding thenuances and maybe creating a
personalized wellness plan thatconsiders everything, well,
that's exactly what a placefocused on health, wellness and
longevity can help with.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Taking action based on good information is
absolutely key.
Exploring what the latestresearch means for your specific
health situation and building aproactive plan that really
includes understanding potentialrisks like these that's just a
smart step toward longevity.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Definitely, and if you're interested in starting
that conversation, maybe divingdeeper into your own health and
wellness journey, consideringall the factors that contribute
to longevity, you can call561-210-9999 to learn more about
taking that proactive approach.
Again, that's 561-210-9999.
To learn more about taking thatproactive approach Again,
that's 561-210-9999.
It really is about beingproactive and informed when it
(17:05):
comes to your health.
All right, team, let's dive deep.
We are tackling a topic that iswell, it's everywhere right now
, legally available in manyplaces and, honestly, the
perception of its risks seems tobe shifting pretty dramatically
.
We're talking about cannabisuse.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
It really is.
It's a subject that's gone fromthe fringes to the mainstream
in a lot of areas, and you'reabsolutely right.
The source material for ourdeep dive today points out that
over the past couple of decades,the prevalence of cannabis use
in the US has gone upsignificantly.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Yeah, and at the same time the perceived risk has
like gone down.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Exactly Simultaneously gone down.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Right.
So maybe you use it, maybefriends use it, or maybe you're
just, you know, seeing it pop upin more conversations.
But regardless of how you feelabout it?
What does the latest sciencesay about its potential impact
on something absolutely criticalyour heart health?
That's our mission today.
We are unpacking a brand newmajor piece of research
published in the highlyrespected Journal of the
(00:56):
American Heart Association.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah, and this isn't some small observational paper
or, you know, a theoreticaldiscussion.
The study draws data from thebehavioral risk Risk Factor
Surveillance System.
That's a massive ongoing healthsurvey run by the CDC.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Okay, brfss yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
This specific analysis looked at information
from over 434,000 US adultssurveyed between 2016 and 2020
across 27 states and twoterritories.
That's a really big data set.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Which you know can lend significant weight to the
findings.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Okay, 434,000 people, that's a serious sample size.
So we're taking this massivestudy and kind of extracting the
absolute most importantinsights it offers on the
connection, or, well, potentialconnection, between cannabis use
and your cardiovascular health.
What exactly did they measurein all of these people?
Speaker 2 (01:47):
So they used a population-based cross-sectional
design.
Now, cross-sectional basicallymeans they took a snapshot in
time.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Right, like a single point.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Exactly.
They looked at all these peopleat one moment and asked them
two main things, bothself-reported First, how often
did they use cannabis in thepast 30 days?
And second, had a healthprofessional ever told them they
had coronary heart disease, hada heart attack, myocardial
infarction or had a stroke?
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Got it.
So it's relying on peopleaccurately reporting their own
health history and theircannabis habits.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
That's right.
It's pretty standard for thesehuge surveys.
But yeah, it's good to keep inmind.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
And a crucial part of the analysis was adjustment.
You know, to try and isolatethe potential effect of cannabis
, they crunched the numbers,accounting for a whole range of
other factors known to affectheart health.
Like what Things?
Like age, sex race, education,BMI, whether someone had
diabetes, alcohol use and,significantly, tobacco use.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Ah, the tobacco piece always key.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Absolutely Controlling for these.
Is vital to see if cannabisstill shows an independent link.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
All right, let's get to the headline findings, then.
What did this study reveal whenthey looked at the big picture,
all adults included in thesurvey ages 18 to 74?
.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Okay, so for this general population, when they
compared people who reportedusing cannabis daily to those
who reported using it not at all, they found statistically
significant associations withseveral major cardiovascular
events.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Okay, give us the number and let's try to break
them down, simply for everyonelistening.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Sure, the adjusted odds ratio, or AOR.
Think of it as a measure of howmuch higher the odds are for
myocardial infarction.
A heart attack right For dailyusers, compared to non-users,
was 1.25.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Okay, 1.25.
So that means daily users hadabout a 25% higher odds of
having had a heart attackcompared to non-users, even
after they did all thatadjusting for other risks.
Correct, a 25% higher oddsisn't like a guarantee you'll
have one, but it's astatistically significant jump.
What about stroke?
Speaker 2 (03:46):
For stroke, the association was actually
stronger.
The AOR was 1.42.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Wow, 1.42.
That's a 42% higher odds ofstroke for daily users compared
to non-users.
That's a pretty notabledifference.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
It is.
And when they looked at acomposite outcome, basically
lumping together coronary heartdisease, heart attack and stroke
, the AOR for daily users was1.28.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
So a 28% higher odds of experiencing any of those
serious events.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Yeah, Now.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
I noticed in the study and you mentioned coronary
heart disease that while therewas an association there, it
didn't quite hit thatstatistically significant mark
in this overall group analysis.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
That's right.
The AOR was 1.16, so itsuggested a trend towards
increased odds of CHD.
But the p-value was 0.09, justslightly over the typical 0.05
cutoff for statistical certainty.
But you know, the links for MIstroke and that combined outcome
were clearly statisticallysignificant.
(04:43):
The study authors are prettyconfident these links aren't
just due to random chance.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
And what's really telling, I think, is they didn't
just look at daily versusnon-use, they looked at the
frequency right.
Did using it more often show astronger link?
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Absolutely.
That's a key point.
They treated the number of daysper month cannabis was used as
a continuous measure and theyreported a clear dose-response
relationship, meaning the moreoften someone reported using
cannabis, the heavier the use.
Essentially, the higher theodds of experiencing these
adverse cardiovascular outcomestended to be.
That kind of gradient reallystrengthens the argument that
(05:16):
the use itself is tied to therisk.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Okay, Okay, Now we have to address the elephant in
the room.
The big question for anydiscussion about cannabis and
smothering risks is this justbecause people who use cannabis
also often smoke tobacco RightFor years that's been the main
counter argument, or at least amajor confounding factor.
This study seems to providesome powerful new data to really
(05:40):
try and isolate that question.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
This is where the study truly offers a unique and,
I think, critical insight.
They performed a separate,specific analysis, focusing only
on the group of respondents whoreported they had never, ever,
used tobacco cigarettes.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Yeah, the never smokers.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Exactly, this is the cleanest way really to see the
association of cannabis use whenyou remove that confounding
factor of tobacco smokinghistory.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
And what happened when they looked only at that
never tobacco smoker group?
Did the associations justdisappear?
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Not at all, not even close.
In fact, daily cannabis use wasstill significantly associated
with increased odds of adversecardiovascular outcomes in this
group.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Really, what were the numbers there?
Speaker 2 (06:18):
For myocardial infarction, the AOR was 1.49.
For stroke, it jumped to aremarkable 2.16.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
2.16.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yep and for the composite outcome, the AOR was
1.77.
Outcome the AOR was 1.77.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Wait, wait, let me just process that You're saying.
The odds ratios, the measure ofincreased risk for MI stroke
and the composite outcome wereactually higher in the group of
people who never smoked tobaccocompared to the analysis of the
overall group that just adjustedfor tobacco use.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Yes, that's exactly what the study found.
It's pretty striking.
For instance, remember, theodds of stroke were 42% higher
for daily users in the overallgroup.
That was AOR 1.42.
Yeah, but in the subset ofpeople who had never touched a
cigarette, the odds were 116%higher.
The AOR was 2.16.
Wow.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
That's a huge difference.
That kind of flips the scripton the idea that the risk is
solely, or even primarily,driven by tobacco use alongside
cannabis.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
It really does.
This study is providing strongevidence for an independent risk
from cannabis itself.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
So cannabis on its own seems to carry risk.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
It appears, so the study authors explicitly
concluded, based on this data,that smoked cannabis and smoked
tobacco might actually carry,and I quote, similar independent
additive risks.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Meaning using either one, especially smoking, it adds
its own separate layer of riskand they can stack up.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
That's the implication.
Using either substance appearsto contribute its own risk to
your cardiovascular health.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Okay, let's shift gears slightly to another
finding that many listenersmight find particularly
surprising the association foundin younger adults.
We often think of heart attackand stroke, as you know, issues
for older folks.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Right, that's a common perception.
The study honed in on aspecific group they defined as
younger adults.
This included men under 55 andwomen under 65.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Why those ages?
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Because these are the age groups typically considered
to be at risk for what's calledpremature cardiovascular
disease, they ran separateanalyses just for this
population segment.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
And were the links still there, even in these
younger people?
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Yes, and they were significant across the board.
In this younger group, Dailycannabis use was significantly
associated with coronary heartdisease AOR 1.30.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Okay, so CHD was significant in this group,
unlike the overall population.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Correct.
Also myocardial infarction AOR1.30.
Stroke AOR 1.56.
So the link holds even inyounger adults.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
And did they look at the never tobacco smokers within
this younger group too?
Speaker 2 (08:46):
They did and, just like with the overall analysis,
they drilled down into thesubset of these younger adults
who had never used tobaccocigarettes.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
The inter-soy.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Pretty much.
Once again, the associationspersisted and were often even
stronger.
In this never tobacco subgroup,for example, the stroke AOR
jumped to 2.40 in younger neversmokers using cannabis daily
2.40.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
So more than double the odds of stroke.
The implication is pretty stark, then.
These findings suggest frequentcannabis use isn't just linked
to heart events later in life,but it might be a significant
risk factor for premature heartdisease in younger people.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Exactly Younger individuals who maybe otherwise
wouldn't be considered high risk.
Yet it challenges the idea thatthis is solely an issue for
later life or only for thosewith a bunch of other major risk
factors already piled up.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
So thinking biologically, why might this be
happening?
Did the study touch onpotential mechanisms?
Briefly, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
The source mentions a couple of possibilities.
First, our bodies haveendocannabinoid receptors
scattered throughout thecardiovascular system.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Compounds in cannabis interact with these, which
suggests a direct biologicalpathway for effects.
Second, thc, the mainpsychoactive component, is known
to have immediate effects onhemodynamics, basically how
blood flows, heart rate, bloodpressure.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
So it can actually change how your heart and
vessels are working, at leasttemporarily.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
blood pressure, so it can actually change how your
heart and vessels are working,at least temporarily, right, and
these acute effects couldpotentially contribute over time
to the observed cardiovascularevents.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
And the method of use seems really important here too
, doesn't it?
You mentioned smoking earlier.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Absolutely critical.
The study points out thatsmoking was by far the
predominant method of cannabisuse.
Among the people they surveyed,nearly 74 percent reported
smoking it.
And that matters, because Well,they note that inhaling
particulate matter and toxinsfrom any burning plant material,
whether it's tobacco orcannabis, can damage blood
vessels and increasecardiovascular risk.
(10:42):
It's the smoke itselfpotentially Makes sense.
They even did a sensitivityanalysis looking specifically at
smoked cannabis use and itshowed very similar significant
associations for MI AOR 1.26,stroke AOR 1.50, and the
composite outcome AOR 1.30.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
So that reinforces that the act of smoking, it is
likely a major contributor tothis observed risk.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
It certainly appears that way, based on this data.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
Okay, let's bring this all back to you, the
listener.
It certainly appears that way,based on this data.
Okay, let's bring this all backto you, the listener.
Why is this deep dive, thisspecific information from this
big study, important for yourlife, for your health awareness
right now?
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Well, the study itself sets the stage perfectly.
As we said at the start,cannabis use is increasing and
the perception that it'scompletely harmless seems to be
growing.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Right, but the science might be telling a
different story, or at least amore nuanced one.
Exactly and, up until recently,getting really large, clean
data on its link to heart healthspecifically independent of
tobacco has been challenging,but this massive recent study
gives us a clearer picture thanperhaps we've had before.
(11:48):
The main takeaway feels prettyundeniable Frequent cannabis use
, particularly daily use, isstrongly linked to a
significantly increased odds ofserious cardiovascular events
like heart attack and stroke.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
And critically.
This study provides powerfulevidence that this link appears
independent of tobacco use.
It's not just the tobacco, thecannabis itself seems to be a
factor, especially when smoked.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Yeah, and that finding that these risks are
seen even in younger individuals, the risk for premature
cardiovascular disease that'sparticularly impactful, I think.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Definitely, the study's clinical implication is
quite direct.
Patients should be screened forcannabis use and advised to
avoid smoking cannabis to reducetheir risk of premature
cardiovascular disease andcardiac events.
That's pretty clear guidancebased on their findings.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
So, armed with this new information from the study,
what do you do?
I mean, it really underscoreshow important it is to consider
all the factors influencing yourhealth, doesn't it?
Especially when it comes topreventing serious issues like
heart attack and stroke?
And, you know, managing youroverall well-being for longevity
Absolutely Understandingpotential risks like these from
(12:55):
reliable research is just acrucial step in taking a
proactive approach to your ownhealth journey.
That's actually a big part ofwhat we focus on in a wellness
context.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
It really is Navigating the latest research,
understanding these potentialrisks and then creating a
personalized plan for health,wellness and longevity based on
solid data.
That's key.
It's all about being informedand having expert guidance to
make the best choices for yourbody and your future health.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Now, this is one very large and significant study,
but, like any research, it'simportant we acknowledge its
limitations, right?
What are a couple that theauthors themselves pointed out?
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Sure, as we mentioned earlier, it's cross-sectional.
It shows an association At onepoint in time cannabis use
linked with reported outcomes,but it doesn't prove direct
cause and effect like, say, arandomized controlled trial
could.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Right Correlation not necessarily causation.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Exactly, although the authors argue that reverse
causality, like someone having aheart attack and then starting
daily cannabis use, is prettyunlikely for these outcomes.
But they do acknowledge thatprospective studies following
people over time are needed fordefinitive proof of causation.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
And the other big one is it relies on self-reported
data right Both for the cannabisuse and the health outcomes.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Yes, and there's always potential for bias with
self-report.
Maybe people under-report theiruse or they don't quite
remember their health historyaccurately, sure.
However, self-reportedcardiovascular disease has been
validated against medicalrecords reasonably well in other
studies.
And, importantly, if peoplewere under-reporting cannabis
use if the actual use is higherthan reported?
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Then the real link could be even stronger.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Exactly.
It would likely make thesefindings more conservative than
they are Meaning.
The true associations couldpotentially be even stronger
than what this study managed todetect.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Okay, so putting it all together, then, the evidence
is certainly growing, seemsmuch stronger now.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
It really is.
This large study addssignificant weight to the
understanding that frequentcannabis use, especially when
smoked, is independentlyassociated with serious
cardiovascular risks like heartattack and stroke.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
And that risk appears tied to how often it's used.
That dose response thing youmentioned.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
Correct, and the findings related to younger
individuals and the potentialfor premature cardiovascular
disease are particularlyeye-opening.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
As the study authors conclude, it's really crucial
for patients, health careproviders and even policymakers
to be fully informed about thesepotential risks, particularly
given the rapidly evolvinglandscape of cannabis use and
public perception.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
This research really highlights how valuable it is to
stay informed about allpotential factors impacting your
health and well-being.
It's not about judgment at all.
It's just about knowledge andmaking empowered choices for
your long-term health goals.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Couldn't agree more Knowledge is indeed power when
it comes to building afoundation for longevity and
vitality.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
So, with these findings in mind, the link
between frequent cannabis useand heart events independent of
tobacco, even showing up inyounger adults what questions
does this raise for you, thelistener, about your own health
choices, about conversations youmight want to have with a
health care professional focusedon wellness and longevity?
Understanding potential riskslike these is just a key part of
(16:15):
a truly comprehensive approachto health.
If you're looking for guidanceon navigating health information
like this, understanding thenuances and maybe creating a
personalized wellness plan thatconsiders everything, well,
that's exactly what a placefocused on health, wellness and
longevity can help with.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Taking action based on good information is
absolutely key.
Exploring what the latestresearch means for your specific
health situation and building aproactive plan that really
includes understanding potentialrisks like these that's just a
smart step toward longevity.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Definitely, and if you're interested in starting
that conversation, maybe divingdeeper into your own health and
wellness journey, consideringall the factors that contribute
to longevity, you can call561-210-9999 to learn more about
taking that proactive approach.
Again, that's 561-210-9999.
To learn more about taking thatproactive approach Again,
that's 561-210-9999.
It really is about beingproactive and informed when it
(17:05):
comes to your health.
Popular Podcasts
United States of Kennedy
United States of Kennedy is a podcast about our cultural fascination with the Kennedy dynasty. Every week, hosts Lyra Smith and George Civeris go into one aspect of the Kennedy story.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com