How Cannabis Affects the Heart and Cardiovascular System | Research

The takeaway

Cannabis triggers measurable cardiovascular responses including increased heart rate and blood pressure changes, with emerging evidence linking heavy use to serious cardiac events.

Cardiologists, primary care providers, and cannabis users with heart concerns

Many patients conceal marijuana use, leading to underreported cardiac effects

What the researchers found

The cardiovascular system reacts strongly to THC, with effects including increased heart rate, changes in blood pressure, and potential triggering of cardiac arrhythmias. The review highlights that many patients conceal their marijuana use, meaning cardiovascular effects of cannabis are likely underreported in clinical settings.

Why it matters

As cannabis use becomes more widespread, healthcare providers need to understand its cardiovascular effects. The review emphasizes that undisclosed cannabis use can complicate diagnosis and treatment of cardiac symptoms.

The numbers in context

The authors estimate a high number of unreported cases due to patients concealing marijuana consumption. The review covers both medicinal and recreational use contexts.

How the study worked

Narrative review of current scientific literature on cannabis and marijuana effects on the heart and cardiovascular system, with emphasis on clinical implications for healthcare providers.

What this study cannot tell us

Narrative review without systematic methodology. The evidence base for cannabis cardiovascular effects is complicated by polysubstance use, dose variability, and underreporting.

How to read the evidence

Narrative review that synthesizes existing literature but does not use systematic search methodology.

When this study was published

2024 review

The bigger picture

Cannabis is often discussed in terms of its neurological or psychiatric effects, but its cardiovascular impact is an underappreciated concern, particularly for patients with pre-existing heart conditions.

Questions still open

Should cardiac patients be routinely screened for cannabis use? How do different cannabis products (smoked vs edible vs concentrated) differ in their cardiovascular effects?

Common questions

Does cannabis affect the heart?

Yes. Cannabis triggers cardiovascular responses including increased heart rate and blood pressure changes. Heavy use has been linked to more serious cardiac events, though the full scope is likely underreported.

Why is cannabis heart risk underreported?

Many patients do not disclose marijuana use to their doctors, making it difficult to connect cardiovascular symptoms to cannabis and leading to underestimated risk in clinical data.

Read the original research

Effects of cannabis use on the heart.

Herz, 49(6), 420-427

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Sharkova, Julia; Nickolaus, Tanja; Schaefer, Jürgen R. (2024). Effects of cannabis use on the heart.. Herz, 49(6), 420-427. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00059-024-05282-x