novel inquiry has expose a potentially important link betweenearly hemp useand the risk of developing heart disease later in life . In one of the first studies looking at specific risk factors of cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) in new , healthy cannabis users , the researcher on the paper identify small – but potentially important – changes in heart and arterial blood vessel function .
“ Cannabis is really widely used as a recreational substance all around the public and is becoming progressively so , ” allege Christian Cheung , a PhD scholarly person in the Human Performance and Health Research Lab , part of the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences ( HHNS ) in astatement . “ scientist have n’t done that research with hemp . ”
It is well document that cigarette smoke for example hasdetrimental effectson cardiovascular health , however , not much is known about marijuana smoking and the long - term effects on the heart and blood vessel .
To find out more , the researchers followed 35 depicted object in the study between the ages of 19 and 30 . Out of the subjects , 18 were early cannabis user and 17 were restraint subjects who did not use cannabis .
The researchers then tax the participant ’s hearts and arteries using ultrasound imagination to value for any changes in arterial stiffness , arterial role , or the ability of arteries to befittingly dilate to allow blood to flow through . The findings reported in theJournal of Applied Physiology , foundthat the cannabis users had overall stiffer artery compared to the control mathematical group . Furthermore , the findings also revealed that cardiac function was overall low-spirited in cannabis exploiter compared to the control group .
Interestingly , however , the researchers did not see a change in arteria dilation in cannabis users versus the control group – which was a surprise , seeing as this a common determination in cigarette smokers .
“ We looked at untested cannabis users . In the cigarette lit , wakeless , long - term smoking carriage show subjugate vascular single-valued function but that ’s not needs the compositor’s case for younger smokers , ” bring Cheung . “ We do n’t yet love why in cannabis users there ’s no difference in vascular function . ”
Nevertheless , this study has pointed out that there might be small changes in arterial rigor and cardiac map which may be indicative of develop CVD by and by in aliveness .
However , more robust surveil - up research should be done with a larger and more diverse universe sizing to measure if these variety are indeed connect to ganja utilisation as the current study design could not turn to whether it is a causal contact .
“ This is exciting new data , suggesting that even before more overt sign and symptoms of cardiovascular disease are present , there may be more pernicious indications in altered physiological map , ” said Dr Jamie Burr , co - author of the field and professor at the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences .
“ It also paves the way to our next study , aim at understanding the direct effects of cannabis consumption , and how this may interact with common stressors of daily living , like exercise . ”
