Scientists Tracked Cannabis Users' Hearts Day by Day—One Finding Stood Out
Senior author and researcher Gregory Marcus told Newsweek that the results may help identify "novel therapies."
A new study has found that regular cannabis users experience significantly fewer early heartbeats when they smoke or vape the substance, compared to days they abstain. The research, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, involved 108 adults who regularly used cannabis but had no history of cardiac arrhythmias.
Over 14 days, each participant wore monitors to track their heart, glucose, activity, and sleep patterns. On each day, they were randomly assigned to either inhale cannabis or abstain. The study found that cannabis users experienced about 9 percent fewer premature heartbeats on days they used the substance, compared to abstinent days.
These early heartbeats, known as premature atrial contractions (PACs), are common and can contribute to heart disease. While the study does not suggest that cannabis is good for cardiovascular health, it provides insights into the biological mechanisms that produce premature atrial contractions and may spur further research into potential therapies.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
