Some info is emerging about marijuana use in the young and cardiovascular problems [View all]

[Yo_Mama]

I read this in Medscape, but that's a subscription (free) site:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/824049?src=wnl_edit_medn_wir&uac=79280DR&spon=34

Here are some other links:
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/23/marijuana-use-linked-to-heart-problems/
http://jaha.ahajournals.org/content/3/2/e000638.full?sid=a7d9834b-0755-446d-b5f7-8a1cef51e92a
http://jaha.ahajournals.org/content/3/2/e000904.full?sid=a7d9834b-0755-446d-b5f7-8a1cef51e92a

The 2006 CARDIA study showed that marijuana use is associated with hypertension, dyslipidemia, and higher caloric intake, all of which may increase the incidence of coronary artery disease.10 In light of the probable effects of marijuana on increasing platelet coagulability11 and its frequent combined use with smoking tobacco or other illicit drugs, it is not surprising to note these reports of myocardial infarctions. In a review of 3882 patient interviews, Mittleman et al12 found a significant 4.8‐fold increase in the incidence of myocardial infarction over baseline in the first hour after marijuana use. Similarly, a 4.2‐fold increase in mortality rate was observed in marijuana users compared with nonusers following myocardial infarction.13

The reason it caught my eye is that this is the only explanation we can find for a 24 year old very fit female with recurrent bouts of tachycardia, and the tachycardia is so serious that we are sending her for a full CV workup.

I also have some preliminary associations showing that it isn't safe for diabetic patients with any trace of CV, and that includes vasoconstriction, to which some people have a natural (genetic) propensity, and which is strongly associated with Type II and CV in the younger cohort.

I can't stress enough that the strength of the association is not known and it may prove that it is confined to people with certain traits only. Doctors do and will continue to prescribe marijuana or THC for some conditions. But it may be prove to be like other drugs - beneficial to some and harmful to others.

There is a strong association with schizophrenia. That much is proven.

All of this puts doctors in an awkward position. We are updating our risk matrix at the clinic to include marijuana use in a number of conditions. However the JAHA suggestion to report adverse medical events to the state (which would be a mandate) would put doctors in a more difficult position with respect to their patients, because they might not be honest if they knew it were to be disclosed, unless an ironclad guarantee of confidentiality were provided.

I thought DU should be aware of both the medical trend here and the possible political implications. I still favor legalization, which would at least leave any problem as a medical issue only, and not a medical/legal problem. And this sort of reporting would be helpful - but I would not want to see mandatory reporting without complete confidentiality in the US.

I do think this is a serious problem for some. When these CV associations occur, they seem to be very serious in the young.