Do You Have the Heart for Marijuana?

Key Finding: Exposure to chemicals damaging to the heart and lungs may be even greater from smoking marijuana than from tobacco, according to researchers from The American College of Cardiology.

“Marijuana stimulates a sympathetic nervous system response — an increase in blood pressure, heart rate and demands on the heart that can be especially hazardous in people with preexisting heart disease or who are at risk of developing it.”

“Vaping delivers the chemicals in marijuana smoke more effectively, resulting in increased doses to the heart and potentially adverse effects that are more pronounced.“

“Marijuana use is associated with twice the hazard of death among those under age 50 who suffered their first heart attack.”

"Compared with tobacco, smoking marijuana causes a fivefold greater impairment of the blood’s oxygen carrying capacity."

Read Full Article in the New York Times

Author: Jane E. Brody

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