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What Are The Side Effects Of Consuming Edible Cannabis For A Cardiac Arrhytmia Patient?
Question: Goood evening, I smoked cannabis consistently for more than fifty years, stopping after I started to experience episodes of Atrial Fibrillation in conjunction with Thyroidic storms after developing both malignant and benign polyps(tumors) in my Thyroid prior to its excision perhaps five years ago. Since then I have abstained and following the installtion of a pacemaker to boost low BP I am awaiting an procedure for an Atrial Ablation. My question is what are the effect of consuming edible cannabis on cardiac arrhythmia and are the risks the same as smoking Cannabis.
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that the effects on the heart of edible cannabis are quite similar to the effects of Cannabis.
The difference between them is just in the affection of the respiratory tract (which is not affected by edible cannabis) and in the time of absorbtion and duration of its effects (which is longer in edible cannabis).
From different studies, marijuana (Cannabis) has shown to decrease exercise time to develop angina in volunteers with known angina pectoris and has been implicated in numerous cases of acute coronary syndromes. Most cases of marijuana-associated acute coronary syndrome occur within 1 hour of exposure and are generally associated with coronary arteries that appear angiographically normal yet are prone to develop spasm, coronary thrombus, or coronary microcirculatory dysfunction. Acute coronary syndromes may also occur years after frequent use with no apparent precipitating factor other than marijuana use.
It can also increase the heart rate and the heart contractility.
From the other hand, different chronic changes in the coronary arteries have occurred in patients taking regularly Cannabis.
Besides, it can also affect the cerebral and peripheral arteries, causing degenerative changes.
From the other hand, it is also important the fact that you have suffered from thyroid dysfunction. It is well known that it can trigger and also exacerbate cardiac arrhythmia, and also cause changes in the heart structure.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that the effects on the heart of edible cannabis are quite similar to the effects of Cannabis.
The difference between them is just in the affection of the respiratory tract (which is not affected by edible cannabis) and in the time of absorbtion and duration of its effects (which is longer in edible cannabis).
From different studies, marijuana (Cannabis) has shown to decrease exercise time to develop angina in volunteers with known angina pectoris and has been implicated in numerous cases of acute coronary syndromes. Most cases of marijuana-associated acute coronary syndrome occur within 1 hour of exposure and are generally associated with coronary arteries that appear angiographically normal yet are prone to develop spasm, coronary thrombus, or coronary microcirculatory dysfunction. Acute coronary syndromes may also occur years after frequent use with no apparent precipitating factor other than marijuana use.
It can also increase the heart rate and the heart contractility.
From the other hand, different chronic changes in the coronary arteries have occurred in patients taking regularly Cannabis.
Besides, it can also affect the cerebral and peripheral arteries, causing degenerative changes.
From the other hand, it is also important the fact that you have suffered from thyroid dysfunction. It is well known that it can trigger and also exacerbate cardiac arrhythmia, and also cause changes in the heart structure.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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