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Suggest Treatment For Atrial Fibrillation
Question: I have been dealing with Afib for 1 1/2 years. My cardiologist considers my condition very low risk for stroke as I am in very good condition ( exercise regularly, good vitals) but the events seem to be more frequent. I will have ablation surgery pending. I smoke very low amounts of marajuana. Could that have cause Afib; will continuing to smoke marajuana create risks going forward?
Thank you
Thank you
Brief Answer:
Probably not, but would limit use.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thank you for using Healthcare Magic. There aren't any studies I'm aware of linking marijuana use to atrial fib. Thus I can't tell you for sure that marijuana caused it or will cause future problems. However, you would be best off not confusing the picture any, ie, quit smoking at this time. Since you smoke very low amounts anyway, this should not be a problem.
Given that, I can tell you that any kind of smoking affects the lungs, and can therefore have an effect on heart function. Smoking can affect the oxygen level, and this can put stress on the heart. Also, you may be inhaling other contaminants with the marijuana that could be problematic.
I am a little confused about why you are considered very low risk for stroke, and what you mean by events being more frequent. The stroke risk is not necessarily related to you exercising regularly or having good vitals. It is more related to the accumulation of clot in the heart itself which can occur when the heart is not effectively pumping the blood out, which can happen with Afib. A piece of clot can then break off and cause a stroke.
This is particularly of concern if your Afib is paroxysmal or intermittent, ie you have a normal rhythm in between episodes of Afib. So your saying the events seem more frequent is a concern for me- do you mean you are mostly in normal rhythm, but then will have a temporary burst of Afib? This actually may place you at a greater risk for stroke if it is happening a lot. If you have had an echocardiogram showing that no clot is present in the heart, that would be reassuring.
In general, I would suggest you hold off on the marijuana for now, until after the ablation and when things are more stable. Also, be sure to double check with your cardiologist about using it. You might also want to confirm with your cardiologist about taking some kind of blood thinner, perhaps just aspirin.
Hope this answers your query. If you have further questions, I would be happy to answer them.
Probably not, but would limit use.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thank you for using Healthcare Magic. There aren't any studies I'm aware of linking marijuana use to atrial fib. Thus I can't tell you for sure that marijuana caused it or will cause future problems. However, you would be best off not confusing the picture any, ie, quit smoking at this time. Since you smoke very low amounts anyway, this should not be a problem.
Given that, I can tell you that any kind of smoking affects the lungs, and can therefore have an effect on heart function. Smoking can affect the oxygen level, and this can put stress on the heart. Also, you may be inhaling other contaminants with the marijuana that could be problematic.
I am a little confused about why you are considered very low risk for stroke, and what you mean by events being more frequent. The stroke risk is not necessarily related to you exercising regularly or having good vitals. It is more related to the accumulation of clot in the heart itself which can occur when the heart is not effectively pumping the blood out, which can happen with Afib. A piece of clot can then break off and cause a stroke.
This is particularly of concern if your Afib is paroxysmal or intermittent, ie you have a normal rhythm in between episodes of Afib. So your saying the events seem more frequent is a concern for me- do you mean you are mostly in normal rhythm, but then will have a temporary burst of Afib? This actually may place you at a greater risk for stroke if it is happening a lot. If you have had an echocardiogram showing that no clot is present in the heart, that would be reassuring.
In general, I would suggest you hold off on the marijuana for now, until after the ablation and when things are more stable. Also, be sure to double check with your cardiologist about using it. You might also want to confirm with your cardiologist about taking some kind of blood thinner, perhaps just aspirin.
Hope this answers your query. If you have further questions, I would be happy to answer them.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your thorough reply, Dr Steinberg.
Yes, my cardiologist's reason for optimism is based on various tests including echocardiogram which did not reveal clotting. My symptoms are indeed intermittent and my heart rate (average of 52) is normal and strong otherwise.
The increase in symptoms: I had previously experience Afib XXXXXXX 4-6 weeks, lasting a couple of days. Recently I had been experiencing the symptoms more frequently and for longer duration. More specifically, this happened only a few times.
My Cardiologist had said that I am an excellent candidate for ablation which he believed would represent a 70% chance of curing my condition. He basically considered my decision to be based on personal lifestyle (do I consider dealing with the symptoms too problematic?) vs. a larger risk of stroke.
I had been on aspirin therapy but for the time being I am on blood thinner in preparation for the ablation procedure. I will discuss continuing aspirin going forward.
To your suggestion re marijuana use: I have discontinued. And, yes, my use is so light stopping would not be problematic. That said, I find it relaxing and enjoyable during certain occasions such as concert viewing. In short, I like it and would prefer to continue but I'm wise enough to stop if it creates considerable risk.
Thank you again.
One other question please. Re your comments re marijuana containing other factors inclusive in marijuana.
Question: If the marijuana is obtained from places such as Colorodo does that reduce the risk? Specifically, is the risk reduced by using edibles instead?
Yes, my cardiologist's reason for optimism is based on various tests including echocardiogram which did not reveal clotting. My symptoms are indeed intermittent and my heart rate (average of 52) is normal and strong otherwise.
The increase in symptoms: I had previously experience Afib XXXXXXX 4-6 weeks, lasting a couple of days. Recently I had been experiencing the symptoms more frequently and for longer duration. More specifically, this happened only a few times.
My Cardiologist had said that I am an excellent candidate for ablation which he believed would represent a 70% chance of curing my condition. He basically considered my decision to be based on personal lifestyle (do I consider dealing with the symptoms too problematic?) vs. a larger risk of stroke.
I had been on aspirin therapy but for the time being I am on blood thinner in preparation for the ablation procedure. I will discuss continuing aspirin going forward.
To your suggestion re marijuana use: I have discontinued. And, yes, my use is so light stopping would not be problematic. That said, I find it relaxing and enjoyable during certain occasions such as concert viewing. In short, I like it and would prefer to continue but I'm wise enough to stop if it creates considerable risk.
Thank you again.
One other question please. Re your comments re marijuana containing other factors inclusive in marijuana.
Question: If the marijuana is obtained from places such as Colorodo does that reduce the risk? Specifically, is the risk reduced by using edibles instead?
Brief Answer:
Edibles may be better
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your reply. The reason I mentioned aspirin was because you had not listed any meds you were taking. Generally, some kind of blood thinner is used with Afib to reduce stroke risk. Aspirin is one choice if others such as warfarin can't be taken for some reason. Since you are on a blood thinner, it is not necessary to be taking aspirin in addition. Could actually increase risk for bleeding.
As far as XXXXXXX and marijuana, I don't know how much any risk would be reduced. It would certainly be purer than what you could obtain on the street (ie, not cut with anything else like PCP, etc). As for the smoking, I was thinking of other components of the cigarette (eg, the paper) that might have contaminants. The damage from smoking nicotine does not occur just from the nicotine itself, but from other components in the tobacco itself.
You would be better off using edibles, as you will just be absorbing the THC in your system without the potential damage caused by the act of smoking itself. However, if the marijuana is cut with something like PCP, you could still absorb that orally.
Hope this helps.
Edibles may be better
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your reply. The reason I mentioned aspirin was because you had not listed any meds you were taking. Generally, some kind of blood thinner is used with Afib to reduce stroke risk. Aspirin is one choice if others such as warfarin can't be taken for some reason. Since you are on a blood thinner, it is not necessary to be taking aspirin in addition. Could actually increase risk for bleeding.
As far as XXXXXXX and marijuana, I don't know how much any risk would be reduced. It would certainly be purer than what you could obtain on the street (ie, not cut with anything else like PCP, etc). As for the smoking, I was thinking of other components of the cigarette (eg, the paper) that might have contaminants. The damage from smoking nicotine does not occur just from the nicotine itself, but from other components in the tobacco itself.
You would be better off using edibles, as you will just be absorbing the THC in your system without the potential damage caused by the act of smoking itself. However, if the marijuana is cut with something like PCP, you could still absorb that orally.
Hope this helps.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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