Study links marijuana to increased heart attack risk

MARSHFIELD — Marijuana use could increase heart attack risk, according to a study with input from local doctors published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

“Most people think marijuana is safe to use ... even some doctors, but it was found that it can give you significant health problems,” said Marshfield Clinic cardiologist Dr. Shereif Rezkalla, who wrote the editorial that accompanied the study.

About 2 percent of marijuana-related health complications reported between 2006 and 2010 to the French Addictovigilance Network, which monitors drug abuse, were cardiovascular complications, including heart attacks and strokes.

Heart attacks were more likely to occur during the first hour after marijuana use, and the majority of patients were young males with no cardiovascular risk factors, Rezkalla said.

“What is most serious is, the heart attacks that occur after marijuana use have higher mortality rates than regular heart attacks,” he said. A four-fold increase in mortality was observed in marijuana users compared to non-users after heart attack, according to the study.

Rezkalla said heavy marijuana use can produce a condition in the heart and brain that results in slow blood flow, cardiac arrhythmia and increased heart attack and stroke risk.

“It’s highly likely if you’re a current user and stop use, you may reduce your cardiovascular risk, but we need a good study that shows that,” Rezkalla said.

Gary Storck of the Madison branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML, said the study doesn’t prove a causal connection between marijuana use and cardiovascular problems and shouldn’t worry people.

“It’s interesting this study is showing up at a time legalization seems to be winning across the nation,” he said.

Storck encouraged lawmakers faced with the decision to legalize marijuana to weigh this research with studies highlighting the benefits of medical marijuana, including one that showed delivering a low dose of cannabinoid after a stroke or heart attack could reduce the risk of ischemic damage.

“Speaking from my own experience as someone with heart defects because of Noonan syndrome, I’ve felt cannabis is a great heart medicine,” he added.

Storck said he had a heart valve replacement, which leaked and began to narrow, but vaporized cannabis allowed him to continue living a normal life, including walking up stairs to his third-floor apartment.

“There is medicinal use for marijuana for diseases such as glaucoma,” Rezkalla said. “Marijuana is for therapeutic benefit. The one thing I have a problem with is legalizing marijuana for recreational use, because it’s not proven to be safe.”

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