A massive new study has just dropped a bombshell that’ll make millions of cannabis users think twice about their next joint. Published in the journal Heart, this research looked at medical data from over 200 million people and found something genuinely shocking: the link between cannabis and heart attack is far more dangerous than anyone realised.

We’re not talking about some dodgy research here. This is proper, peer-reviewed science that’s making doctors seriously worried about risks that nobody’s been talking about. Sometimes the best high is staying clean.

The numbers are pretty grim. Cannabis users had a 29% higher risk of heart attacks and were 20% more likely to have strokes compared to people who don’t touch the stuff. But here’s the kicker—these weren’t old blokes with existing heart problems. These were young, healthy people with no previous cardiovascular issues.

It’s Not Just Old People Having Heart Attacks

“What was particularly striking was that the concerned patients hospitalised for these disorders were young,” said Émilie Jouanjus, who led the research at the University of Toulouse. That completely rules out tobacco or dodgy lifestyle choices as the main culprit.

This is one of the biggest studies ever to explore the connection between cannabis and heart attack, and the timing couldn’t be more important. With weed becoming legal in more places, usage has absolutely skyrocketed. In some groups, more people are smoking cannabis than cigarettes. Many reckon it’s safer and more natural than tobacco. But prevention beats treatment every time.

Edibles Aren’t the Safe Option You Think They Are

Think you’re being clever by avoiding smoking and sticking to edibles? Think again. Recent research found that THC gummies and brownies can actually mess with your blood vessels even more than smoking. In one study, people who ate cannabis edibles saw their vascular function drop by 56%, compared to 42% for smokers.

That’s mental when you think about it. All those people switching to edibles thinking they’re avoiding the cannabis and heart attack connection might actually be making things worse. Your heart doesn’t care how the THC gets there.

Today’s Weed Isn’t What Your Parents Smoked

Here’s something that’ll blow your mind: the cannabis people are smoking today is absolutely nothing like what was around in the ’70s and ’80s. Back in 1995, your average joint contained about 4% THC. By 2014, that had jumped to 12%. Now? Some products are hitting 80-90% THC.

That’s not just a bit stronger—that’s like comparing a pint of beer to a bottle of vodka. “That’s an increase of more than 300% from 1995 to about 2017,” explains Dr Staci Gruber from Harvard’s McLean Hospital. This massive increase in potency makes the relationship between cannabis and heart attack even more concerning. Know what you’re putting in your body—it could save your life.

Doctors Are Starting to Panic

Medical professionals are now calling for cannabis screening to become as routine as asking about smoking. “Clinicians need to screen people for cannabis use and educate them about its harms, the same way we do for tobacco,” said Dr Lynn Silver from the University of California.

This is a massive shift. For years, doctors have largely ignored cannabis use because they thought it was relatively harmless. These new findings about cannabis and heart attack risks are forcing a complete rethink about cardiovascular dangers. Early warning saves lives.

Why Cannabis Messes With Your Heart

Scientists are still working out exactly how cannabis damages your cardiovascular system, but they’ve got some solid theories. THC seems to trigger inflammation, speed up your heart rate, and push up blood pressure—all things that put serious strain on your ticker and strengthen the cannabis and heart attack link.

Plus, if you’re smoking it, you’re still inhaling all sorts of nasty particles that can clog up your arteries. “Cannabis smoke is not all that different from tobacco smoke, except for the psychoactive drug: THC versus nicotine,” one researcher pointed out. Clean lungs, healthy heart.

The Reality Check

Daily cannabis users now outnumber people who drink alcohol every day. That’s a first in human history, and frankly, it’s a bit scary given what we’re learning about the cannabis and heart attack connection.

“Getting this right is critically important because cardiovascular disease is the top cause of death both in the United States and globally,” Dr Silver warned. For anyone over 60 or with existing heart problems, these findings about cannabis and heart attack should be a proper wake-up call. Prevention is your best protection.

The harsh truth is that the perception of cannabis as a harmless drug needs a serious update. As one expert put it: “If I was a 60-year-old with cardiovascular risk, I’d be very cautious.”

This research isn’t about being anti-cannabis or trying to scare people unnecessarily. It’s about having honest conversations based on proper science. And right now, that science is saying the cannabis and heart attack risks are far more serious than most people realise. Stay informed, stay safe.

Source: Yahoo