Much like cigarette smoking, marijuana use may raise risk for peripheral artery disease, with a new study finding that users had three times the risk of developing PAD.
MONDAY, May 15, 2023 -- Smoking cigarettes has long been linked to peripheral artery disease , a condition where the buildup of plaque narrows arteries and limits blood flow to the legs or arms.
“Marijuana users should seek early evaluation by a health care professional if they have symptoms such as leg pain while walking, slower/no hair growth and coldness in the leg as there seems to be an increased risk for developing PAD in this patient population,” said study authors Dr. Hirva Vyas from Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey and Dr. Harsh Jain, a resident with the Montefiore Health System in New York City.
The study found that marijuana users were at an increased risk even after controlling for some variables, including smoking cigarettes, Vyas and Jain said. Dr. Robert Page, a professor in the departments of clinical pharmacy and physical medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Denver, cautioned that the study shows an association and not a cause-and-effect link.
Cannabis has, in past research, been shown to be linked to a number of other cardiovascular health issues in heavy smokers of the drug, Page said.“What it does suggest is that, to put it in layman's terms, is that THC can make platelets angry and when they get angry, they aggregate. And when they aggregate, that can lead to what we call thrombosis [a blood clot],” he explained.
“When you take that into account, these data are not surprising,” Page said. “I think it adds to the literature, particularly in younger adults, that we're seeing an increased risk for ischemic stroke and we're also seeing an increase in early first-time stroke in younger adults, between the ages of 18 to 40, where you wouldn't think of that."
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Thai PM candidate casts vote in marijuana-print shirtThailand's health minister and cannabis advocate Anutin Charnvirakul turned heads during Sunday's election as he arrived to cast his vote at a polling station wearing a dark shirt with bright green marijuana leaves.
Read more »
Preakness Stakes storylines: All eyes on Mage's Triple Crown questThe return of Bob Baffert and a handful of longshots add levels of intrigue to the Preakness Stakes. But all eyes are on Kentucky Derby-winning Mage.
Read more »
Cannabis home-growing 101: How to cultivate clones, seeds in ColoradoBecause weed plants grow like, well, weeds, the process is also fairly simple. According to experts, anyone with a green thumb can be successful at growing cannabis.
Read more »
Cases of marijuana laced with fentanyl increasing, says Washington doctorThere is an increase in cases of marijuana laced with fentanyl in numerous states, according to a Washington doctor, making it far more potent.
Read more »
Gene Editing Gets a Triple Boost: “Happy Accident” Leads to Enhanced CRISPR EfficiencyScientists have enhanced the efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing by threefold using interstrand crosslinks, without resorting to viral material for delivery. This approach boosts the cell’s natural repair mechanisms, allowing for more accurate and efficient gene editing, potentially improving dis
Read more »
John Edwards James found guilty of triple murderJohn Edwards James was found guilty Monday afternoon on three counts of First-Degree murder for the deaths of 44-year-old Willona Ametrice White, 18-year-old Talmadge Holmes Jr., and 14-year-old Jaiden White.
Read more »