Smoking tobacco has long been linked to an increased risk of peripheral artery disease. Recent research shows that cannabis may offer similar results. Users may have three times the risk of developing the condition.
The study is preliminary and does not specify whether the risk of PAD is more pronounced depending on how you use weed. But if you are a user, you may want to talk to your doctor about your health.
“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 legs as there seems to be an increased risk for developing PAD in this patient population,” says study authors Dr. Harsh Jain, a resident with the Montefiore Health System in New York City and Dr. Hirva Vyas from Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey.
The Study
Researchers used data collected from U.S. National Inpatient Samples between 2016 and 2019. Over 620,000 of the 30 million participants used marijuana. Their average age was just over 37. More than 2400 of them had PAD.
Marijuana users showed a three-time greater risk of developing PAD. But there was no significant increased risk of surgical intervention or death.
The authors believe the increased risk may be due to marijuana causing a change in blood clots or affecting peripheral vascular tone. Experts point out, although the study establishes a link, it does not show a direct cause and effect. However, it suggests that users should be concerned.
Although the study did not reveal information on the method of consumption, it is likely to play a role in health results. “It is paramount to note that the active ingredient in THC is metabolized in different ways when smoked versus ingested and may have different risk factors associated with each,” the authors say.
The research found that users were at risk even after controlling other factors like tobacco use.
Other Harmful Effects of THC
THC has been found to produce other harmful effects similar to those linked to cigarette smoking. This is mainly due to how it affects blood platelets.
Dr. Robert Page, a professor in the departments of clinical pharmacy and physical medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Denver and former chair of the American Heart Association states,” What it does 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).”
Page goes on to point out that THC and CBD contain carcinogens and tar that can harm the blood vessels. Past research suggests that cannabis use can lead to an increased risk of ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction in young adults.
“Providers need to be asking at each patient encounter for their patients to be very transparent about cannabinoid use, no judgment involved, but we need to be using this as a risk factor for both coronary and peripheral artery disease,” he states.