Unexpected findings add new insight on cannabis and heart health
Habitual cannabis users experienced about 9% fewer premature heartbeats on days they inhaled cannabis compared with days they abstained, a counterintuitive finding that adds to the complex and evolving understanding of how cannabis affects the heart, according to new UC San Francisco-led research.
New research led by UC San Francisco has found that habitual cannabis users experienced about 9% fewer premature heartbeats on days they inhaled cannabis compared to days they abstained. This surprising result, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, adds to the complex understanding of cannabis's impact on heart health.
While the study challenges assumptions from previous observational studies, researchers caution that the findings should not influence medical or behavioral decisions regarding cannabis use. The trial enrolled 108 adults who regularly used cannabis and had no history of cardiac arrhythmias, randomly assigning them to either inhale cannabis or abstain each day while wearing a continuous monitoring system.
The study, the first to examine the acute cardiovascular effects of inhaled cannabis in daily life, revealed a decrease in early heartbeats known as premature atrial contractions, which are a significant predictor of atrial fibrillation. However, no significant change was observed in other types of premature heartbeats or in daily physical activity, sleep duration, or glucose levels.
Researchers emphasize that the study's findings reflect acute effects and do not establish any cardiovascular benefit or long-term safety associated with cannabis use.
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