26-year-old suffered heart attack and heart failure after a cannabis smoking binge
A 26-year-old male experienced ST-elevation myocardial infarction and heart failure following a cannabis smoking binge, adding to documented cases of cannabis-associated cardiovascular emergencies in young people.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
A 26-year-old male with no prior cardiac history presented with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and subsequent heart failure after heavy cannabis smoking. The case adds to the literature on acute MI following cannabis use and discusses possible pathophysiologic mechanisms.
Key Numbers
Patient: 26-year-old male. Diagnosis: ST-elevation myocardial infarction with heart failure. Trigger: cannabis smoking binge.
How They Did This
Single case report with literature review of acute myocardial infarction following cannabis smoking and potential pathophysiologic mechanisms.
Why This Research Matters
Heart attacks in 26-year-olds are extremely rare. When they occur after cannabis use, the potential cardiovascular mechanisms (coronary vasospasm, increased oxygen demand, platelet activation) deserve attention, especially as cannabis use increases among young people.
The Bigger Picture
Cases like this are rare but accumulating. Each one strengthens the evidence that cannabis can trigger acute cardiovascular events in susceptible individuals, even young ones. The mechanisms likely involve coronary vasospasm and hemodynamic stress.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single case report cannot prove causation. Other cardiovascular risk factors may have been present. Cannabis binge dosing may not represent typical use patterns. Temporal association does not equal causation.
Questions This Raises
- ?What specific cardiovascular risk factors interact with cannabis to produce MI in young users?
- ?Is there a dose threshold?
- ?Would cannabis edibles pose the same risk as smoking?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 26-year-old with no cardiac history: heart attack and heart failure after cannabis binge
- Evidence Grade:
- Preliminary: single case report with temporal association only.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2019.
- Original Title:
- ST elevation myocardial infarction following a cannabis smoking binge.
- Published In:
- Cardiology in the young, 29(6), 847-848 (2019)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02097
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?
This case documents a heart attack in a 26-year-old after heavy cannabis smoking. While single cases can't prove causation, the accumulating literature suggests cannabis can trigger cardiovascular events in susceptible individuals through vasospasm and hemodynamic changes.
How rare is this?
Heart attacks in people under 30 are extremely rare. Cannabis-associated cardiac events in young people are documented but uncommon. The risk likely depends on individual cardiovascular susceptibility and the amount used.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02097APA
Katranas, Sotirios; Ziakas, Antonios; Didagelos, Matthaios. (2019). ST elevation myocardial infarction following a cannabis smoking binge.. Cardiology in the young, 29(6), 847-848. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1047951119001008
MLA
Katranas, Sotirios, et al. "ST elevation myocardial infarction following a cannabis smoking binge.." Cardiology in the young, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1047951119001008
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "ST elevation myocardial infarction following a cannabis smok..." RTHC-02097. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/katranas-2019-st-elevation-myocardial-infarction
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.