Leg artery problems more common in marijuana users |
| Marijuana users may be at higher risk for narrowed arteries in their limbs, a new analysis suggests. The findings are drawn from U.S. hospital data on 30 million patients, including 623,768 marijuana users. Compared to nonusers, the marijuana users were more than three times more likely to have so-called peripheral artery disease (PAD), researchers reported on Thursday at the annual meeting of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions in Phoenix. The researchers did not say whether duration or intensity of marijuana use had an impact on PAD risk. In PAD, narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the arms or legs. Untreated, it can lead to loss of mobility, reduced quality of life, heart attack, stroke and death. Overall, roughly 6.5 million U.S. adults have PAD, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "With the increase in marijuana use in the U.S., our findings show that users should be aware of the symptoms of PAD such as leg pain while walking, slower or no hair growth and feelings of coldness in the leg," study leader Dr. Hirva Vyas of Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey said in a statement. This newsletter was edited by Bill Berkrot. Source: Reuters Well now, my question about this article is what was in the unedited Statement? And why was it published in an edited format? How well respected are the cited institutions in this field of study? Or are they merely jumping on the lets slam cannabis bandwagon? Subsequent questions shoulld be: How many of the alleged 623,768 cannabis users actually presented with the listed symptoms they ascribe to cannabis use? How many of these with the symptoms they list also suffer from other conditions that cause the same problems? One example would be Type 2 Diabetes which I have, and had before I used cannabis, with consequent, quite bad, leg pain while walking. Not now though whether due to the dibetes medication or maybe somthing else I don't know. Admittedly I am a very light user of the wicked weed so perhaps I just dont use enough to get these symptoms. My personal view on this Reuters article is that it was a Slow News day and they needed filler, like there isn't enough bad shit going on in the world to keep them occupied. So a statement released by some insignificant organisation and a previously unknown (to me) institution must have come like manna from heaven to a global news organisation desperate for some filler material. I would still like to see the unedited statement though, to see what was edited out. Although to be honest I just can't be bothered looking for it. |
I may be able to shed a tad bit of light on this subject.. I'm almost 47 years old in July and I myself just learned that the effects of Good Ole MJ (that I've smoked for 31 years now)
are not well studied enough for a full definitive answer when it comes to PAD and marijuana's effect on the Cardiovascular system. 1 huge #1 fact about smoking anything (weed, crack, meth, cigs, cigars whatever your poison) That everyone should know is that IT WILL undoubtedly without a doubt harden your arteries and eventually your Peripheral Arteries...They do know for a fact (and so do I now that I pay attention) that within 5 to 10 mins after smoking the heart rate increases like 90-100% In the form of higher blood pressure and a faster heart rate..Rhe effects last different time lengths according to the person's heart health..But the same goes also if your a tobacco smoker or user, or wether you use a pen, dabs etc..Either way, your heart isn't the only thing that causes a person to have heart issues; as you need your lungs AND heart to push it through your system..What made me look into it aside from learning about medicine like I do 
is specifically because their isn't enough studies done. I'm a firm believer in marijuana helping medically cause it helps keep God's goodness legal; therefore, that's definitely something I think that should be on top of the list because I mean hell, have the world's got heart problems and I've actually been told to try and not smoke...
So yeah that was funny on his part 
like the words even coming out of his mouth was nuts...Smh.
But frfr the medical aspect that has been studied goes little like this ..The THCs Endocannabinoid receptors that get activated when we smoke are the CB1 and CB2 receptors in our brains cannabinoid junction..CB1 and CB2 are both also 100% lipid mediators..They tell our bodies when, where and how much of the protein to breakdown through what's called channel's. Fat content in the form of Lipid protein ( high HDL or LDL) little or too much calcium in the blood, or not enough Sodium or potassium etc are critical and crucial metabolic processes that must take place daily to survive..Mainly fats (lipids) though are one of their main functions. They mediate in the form of Beta and Alpha..Hence the medical terms beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, MAOI inhibitors etc..These all for the most part control how well your heart and hearts smooth lining muscles function so blood flows freely and don't clog or clot. That includes your Arteries and blood vessels as well. They control blood pressure, heart arrhythmia issues and some are specific for either calcium channel blockers to slow calcium deposit and prevent bone growth in the arteries; while its even twin controls the thick fat depositing of atherosclerosis or Sclerotic material and allows for more calcium etc.. They don't just determine whether people get fat or not..lol But either way that type of fat is the type of fat we don't want in our body..Do they do know that marijuana does affect the human heart in that way by the interruption of CB1 and CB2 mixed receptor signaling due to the effects from smoking marijuana.. They will have many, many more, studies about the Terpenes and their specific effects on the Cardiovascular system before they can ever CDC this kinda claims... Ima bet there's more potheads than there is people on heart meds..for now anyways 
