Medical Marijuana and Heart Disease: Can It Be Used?
Heart disease is something that affects more than one and a half million people every year. It’s one of those unfortunate conditions that you don’t expect to look forward to as you reach your golden years.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 700,000 individuals die from heart attacks and related complications each year. The disease is often known as the silent killer, due to the quick onset of symptoms that may often be un-assumed to be dangerous.
What are The Symptoms of Heart Disease?
Heart disease occurs when the muscles, chambers, valves, pumps, or blood flow to the heart is disrupted or malfunctioning in some capacity. Many symptoms that indicate heart disease include common things that can be mistaken for another type of ailment.
Some of the issues that you might experience are:
- Chest pain
- Sweating
- Fatigue
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizziness
- Neck pain
- Swelling
- Nausea
Any of the above issues can not only indicate disease, but also blockages, narrow blood vessels, heart attack, or stroke. Although men and women may feel symptoms differently, some of them can occur simultaneously.
It is imperative that you speak with a medical provider or emergency physician immediately if any of these do occur in order to avoid life altering damage.
What Ages Do You Suffer From Heart Symptoms?
The average age of a person who is suffering from heart disease or heart failure, is someone who is in their mid-sixties or older. However, statistics show that people are experiencing heart attacks and complications as early as their twenties or thirties in some situations.
Having certain familial backgrounds may put you at an increased risk for experiencing heart disease earlier in life.
- History of heart attack or stroke
- High blood pressure
- Higher cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Sleep Apnea or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
In addition to having a background based on historical factors, there are many social habits that may put you at risk as well.
- Keeping an unhealthy diet
- Excessive intake of alcohol
- Frequent smoking of tobacco
- Lack of irregular sleep
- Stress or anxiety
Many people turn to treatment options such as blood pressure medications, anti-anxiety pills or antidepressants to alleviate what they may be experiencing. However, there are some natural remedies that may help to lessen the severity of the factors that contribute to heart disease.
Can Medical Marijuana Be Used for Heart Disease?
Medical marijuana or cannabidiol (CBD) are derived from the plant species of Cannabis Sativa and contain a combination of over 80 chemicals that bind to hundreds of endocannabinoid receptors in many parts of the body.
The receptors play a huge role in how the body responds to symptoms that can trigger stress such as anxiety, reduced sleep, anger, depression, and many other factors.
According to the NCBI, a division of the NIH, more than 2 million heart patients use a form of marijuana, including medical marijuana for heart disease, or cannabis products each year.
The American Heart Association has shown that there can be an increased risk in certain symptoms if used in vaping or unknown potency levels such as unregulated concoctions.
Is Medical Marijuana Safe for Heart Patients?
There has not been adequate research on medical marijuana and heart disease to indicate that medical marijuana is considered unsafe for individuals suffering from heart disease based on a lack of clinical trials .
However, patients with a daily or frequent annual usage of medical marijuana have reported a reduction in symptoms such as :
- Pain
- Insomnia
- Lack of appetite
- Anxiety or stress
- Depression
- Headaches
Patients who suffer from (ASHD) or arteriosclerotic heart disease have also been known to benefit by a reduction of symptoms.
How Do You Use Medical Marijuana for Heart Conditions?
Medical Marijuana for heart disease can be consumed in a variety of fashions depending upon the person’s comfort level and preferred method . Many of the common routes in patients typically suffering from heart conditions come in edibles, topicals, oils, or smoked in some instances.
Conclusion:
Overall, medical marijuana has had many positive effects on people who suffer from a variety of heart diseases and heart conditions.
If you are interested in seeing if exploring medical marijuana or cannabidiol is right for you, please schedule an appointment with a certified natural medicine doctor today.
