Recent Blog Articles
Improving access to hearing aids
Can mindfulness change your brain?
Five lifestyle factors that can help prevent gastroesophageal reflux disease
Transient ischemic attacks: Varied symptoms, all important
5 inflammation-fighting food swaps
Is IBD an underrecognized health problem in minority groups?
Sickle cell disease in newborns and children: What families should know and do
COVID-19 vaccines for children and teens: What we do — and don’t — know
Happy trails: Take a hike, now
Sleep well — and reduce your risk of dementia and death
Heart Health
How does marijuana affect the heart?
More Americans now use marijuana than smoke cigarettes. But the drug may be risky for those with heart disease.
Growing numbers of Americans use marijuana, including baby boomers in their 60s, 70s, and beyond. To date, 11 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for recreational purposes. And 33 states allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to treat certain health problems, including pain, anxiety, and depression.
Compared with other prescription drugs, the health consequences of using marijuana are not nearly as well studied (see "Stuck in the weeds: The problem with pot research"). But converging evidence suggests that the drug may be harmful for the heart, according to a January 28 review article in JACC: Journal of the American College of Cardiology. More than two million Americans with heart disease currently use or have used marijuana, the authors estimate.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
