Dr. O'Connell answers the question: 'Can Marijuana Affect Heart Failure Risk?'
Question: Can marijuana affect my risk of heart failure?
Answer: As we look at the causes of heart failure in young adults, we always question them about the use of illicit drugs. In fact, several of the commonly used drugs may, in fact, have an adverse effect on the heart. Marijuana, the most commonly used drug that is all-pervasive in our society, causes and increased heart rate and an increased blood pressure. In someone who is predisposed to heart disease, that, in and of itself, could be deleterious. And certainly the regular use of marijuana, with regular increases in your pulse rate and increases in your blood pressure, could have very significant long-term effects.
