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Marijuana use- whether vaping, smoking, or edibles- is associated with increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and arterial disease. Given that heart disease is still the number one cause of death for men and women, and we at Biohackr Health are focused on healthspan and longevity, we would be remiss to not talk about this issue.
Many people feel that pot use is “healthier,” a “greener” alternative. Some people use pot recreationally, some use it for pain or sleep issues. But you need to remember it has downsides, and just because it is legal does not minimize its health effects. This was a study out of UCSF (Go Bay Area!) which was published in JAMA Cardiology in May 2025.
Study:
- 55 healthy patients, ages 18-50
- Regular cannabis users (smoking or THC edibles) at least 3x/week for a year
Findings?
- Increased heart disease. 25% increased risk heart attack
- Increased stroke risk by 42%
- 50% reduced blood vessel function (ie can’t dilate well, which helps with blood flow and blood pressure)
- Lower levels of nitric oxide, a critical substance to help blood vessels relax.
Conclusion?
THC – whether smoked, vaped, or eaten as an edible- is damaging to your heart and blood vessels. This is not the only publication to come out with this. There was a British Medical Journal Article which did a meta analysis showing a positive correlation. Another study looking at 4 million people showed in people younger than 50 that cannabis use caused a 6x risk of heart attack, 4x risk of stroke, and 2x risk of heart failure.
How can Biohackr Health help?
Clearly you should not do cannabis. Marijuana, specifically the THC, in any form causes damage which will limit your healthspan and longevity.
- Know your heart disease risk. Are you diabetic? What is your cholesterol? ApoB? LDL? HDL? TEST.
- See your exercise and heart health with a VO2 max test. Think it isn’t affecting you? It is, whether you are smoking it or doing edibles. You can test VO2 max and see when you switch from aerobic to anaerobic activity. This is a barometer not only of cardiovascular risk but also all cause mortality.
- Cardiac Calcium Scan. Have you been a user? Want to see if there is damage to your blood vessels? A cardiac calcium scan can give you a sneak peek.
- Optimize your body health. Weight, blood pressure, blood sugar. If you do not know where to start, see our Biohackr Benchmark and Telehealth with a clinician visit and prescriptions if needed.
MEDICAL CITATIONS:
Increased heart attack risk with cannabis
Increased heart attack risk with cannabis
The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider for any questions regarding your health or medical condition.