A Heart Attack Linked to Slow Blood Flow in the Heart After Long-Term Cannabis Use
A patient who used cannabis regularly for a long period experienced a heart attack (inferior MI with ST elevation) associated with slow coronary flow despite having no arterial blockages.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
A patient who had consumed cannabis regularly over a long period presented with an inferior myocardial infarction (heart attack) showing ST segment elevation on ECG.
Coronary angiography revealed slow coronary flow (SCF), defined as slow movement of contrast dye through the coronary arteries in the absence of significant arterial blockages.
The patient lacked the common cardiovascular risk factors typically associated with heart attacks, suggesting cannabis use may have contributed to the coronary event.
The authors noted that recent research had linked cannabis consumption to increased coronary heart disease risk and acute coronary syndromes, particularly in young individuals without standard risk factors.
Key Numbers
One patient. Regular long-term cannabis use. Inferior MI with ST elevation. Slow coronary flow on angiography. No significant coronary artery stenosis.
How They Did This
Single case report documenting ST-elevation myocardial infarction with slow coronary flow on angiography in a chronic cannabis user.
Why This Research Matters
While cannabis is generally not associated with coronary artery disease, this case adds to a small but growing number of reports linking cannabis use to acute cardiac events, potentially through mechanisms like vasospasm or slow coronary flow.
The Bigger Picture
Cannabis can acutely increase heart rate and, in some cases, may trigger coronary vasospasm or alter coronary blood flow. While serious cardiovascular events from cannabis are rare, they appear to occur disproportionately in young people without typical risk factors.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single case report cannot establish causation. Other contributing factors may not have been fully evaluated. Slow coronary flow has multiple causes beyond cannabis. The temporal relationship between cannabis use and the cardiac event was not specified.
Questions This Raises
- ?Through what mechanism does cannabis affect coronary blood flow?
- ?How common are cannabis-related cardiac events?
- ?Should patients with cardiovascular risk factors be warned about cannabis use?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Heart attack with slow coronary flow and no blockages in a regular cannabis user
- Evidence Grade:
- Single case report. Cannot establish causation. Adds to a small body of similar case reports.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2010. Cannabis cardiovascular risk has received more attention since then, with larger studies generally confirming a small but real risk of acute cardiac events.
- Original Title:
- ST segment elevation myocardial infarction due to slow coronary flow occurring after cannabis consumption.
- Published In:
- Kardiologia polska, 68(11), 1266-8 (2010)
- Authors:
- Karabulut, Ahmet, Cakmak, Mahmut
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00424
Evidence Hierarchy
Describes what happened to one person or a small group.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can cannabis cause a heart attack?
Case reports like this have documented heart attacks associated with cannabis use, particularly in young people without typical risk factors. While this is rare, cannabis can increase heart rate and may trigger coronary vasospasm. The overall cardiovascular risk is considered low but not zero.
What is slow coronary flow?
Slow coronary flow is a condition where blood moves through the coronary arteries more slowly than normal despite no significant blockages. It can reduce oxygen delivery to the heart muscle and, in rare cases, trigger a heart attack.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00424APA
Karabulut, Ahmet; Cakmak, Mahmut. (2010). ST segment elevation myocardial infarction due to slow coronary flow occurring after cannabis consumption.. Kardiologia polska, 68(11), 1266-8.
MLA
Karabulut, Ahmet, et al. "ST segment elevation myocardial infarction due to slow coronary flow occurring after cannabis consumption.." Kardiologia polska, 2010.
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "ST segment elevation myocardial infarction due to slow coron..." RTHC-00424. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/karabulut-2010-st-segment-elevation-myocardial
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.