Warning Symptoms
The Link Between Cannabis and Heart Attacks
As cannabis products are legalized state-by-state, we have seen a significant rise in health issues associated with compounds that many once thought were relatively harmless – in fact, some proponents have touted cannabis as a miracle cure.
However, a recent evaluation of CDC data1 has given credence to the concerns surrounding cannabis. After following younger adults (45 years old and younger) in the 30 days after taking a cannabis product, the risk for a heart attack increased by 50%. The results are a reminder that we still do not know enough about the effects of cannabis on our health.
Assessing Your Cardiovascular Risk & Starting Regular Screening
If you’re reading this, you probably understand the severity of cardiovascular disease. In fact, it is the leading killer of both male and female Americans. As a result, not only is it one of the most significant health challenges in the United States and worldwide, but it can be reversed with prevention and screening. Did you know that up to 80% of cardiovascular issues can be avoided altogether with proper prevention? As it relates to prevention, we will discuss heart-healthy habits and lifestyle changes often within this blog. However, for this article, we want to focus on screening.
Believe it or not, we start screening patients for cardiovascular disease early on – even in their 20s. Simple blood pressure checks and blood work to identify cholesterol allow us to develop a trend line that stratifies the risk of heart disease in each patient. As they age and reach their 40s, electrocardiograms or EKGs become a standard part of the annual physical. However, as we get closer to a patient’s 50s or 60s, we begin to think about a more complete regimen, as well as risk factors that may require early screening.