Brief Answer:
occasional use does not cause serious troubles.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.

I can understand your concerns as a mother.

Very occasional use of alcohol and marijuana will not lead to serious troubles even in person with benign heart murmur.

However, Excessive use of either alcohol or marijuana, can increase cardiac work and can lead serious cardiac consequences like arrhythmia and cardiac arrest, especially in those who already have cardiac pathology.

Hope this answers your query satisfactorily.

Would be glad to discuss further, if you have more queries.

Kindly close the discussion and give your valuable feedback if you have no more queries.

You can also ask a direct query at your convenience.

Thanks.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD.

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Brief Answer:
both cardiac and respiratory damage possible.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the follow-up query.

Daily marijuana use can lead to increase in heart rate and blood pressure. Thus, the heart has to work more. This can lead to serious cardiac effects, sometimes sudden cardiac arrest.

Marijuana and alcohol can cause additive burden on heart.

Vaping and smoking marijuana can cause damaging effects on respiratory tract (damage to bronchial epithelial linings). The smoke of marijuana also contains cancer causing chemicals. Since there is history of asthma, the damage to respiratory tract by marijuana can further cause breathing problems.

I would suggest you to be cautious. If possible, persuade this young guy to quit both alcohol and marijuana. If complete abstinence is not possible, reduction in frequency of use must be considered.

Hope this helps.

Thanks.

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Brief Answer:
Happy to help.

Detailed Answer:
Glad that my suggestions could be of some help to you.

I wish you and your son a good health.

Kindly close the discussion and give your valuable feedback.

Thanks.
Dr. Shubham Mehta.

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