Huge heart attack risk linked to dirty habit that thousands of Australians are doing daily
A new study suggests that regularly smoking cannabis or consuming edibles may increase the risk of heart attack.
The team from the University of California San Francisco who made the find warns it is 'more evidence cannabis use is not benign.'
In the new study, researchers found people who smoked marijuana or took edibles at least three times a week had damage to their blood vessels, which are vital for delivering oxygen and nutrients from the heart to every organ and tissue.
Their blood vessels worked half as well compared to those who never used cannabis.
This causes blood vessels to constrict, raising the risk of blood clots, which can lead to coronary artery disease, heart attacks and stroke.
While recent studies have linked cannabis smoking to heart disease, the new report is one of the first to show heart damage from edibles containing THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis.
Matthew Springer, study co-author and professor of medicine at UCSF, told CNN: 'We're looking at a window in the future, showing the early changes that may explain why smoking marijuana has been linked to later heart disease.'
The warning comes as the number of Australians using cannabis continues to rise.
Daily cannabis use in Australia increased from 14 per cent in 2019 to 18 per cent in 2022–2023, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Among Australians who used cannabis in the past 12 months, the largest proportion - 32 per cent - used it only once or twice a year, while approximately one in seven - or 14 per cent - used it every day.
Cannabis continues to be the most widely used illicit drug in Australia, with 11.5% of people reporting recent use in 2022–2023.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) causes one in every four deaths in Australia.
In 2021, it was the underlying cause of 42,700 deaths, representing 25 per cent of all deaths that year, according tho the heart foundation.
On average, one Australian dies from CVD every 12 minutes, which amounts to 118 deaths each day.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
39 minutes ago
- Reuters
Australia's defence minister urges greater military openness from China
SINGAPORE, May 31 (Reuters) - Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles on Saturday urged greater transparency from China over its military modernisation and deployments as Pacific nations brace for a more assertive Chinese presence. Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue defence meeting in Singapore, Marles said that while China remains an important strategic partner to Australia, more open communication between the two nations is key for a "productive" relationship. "When you look at the growth in the Chinese military that has happened without a strategic reassurance, or a strategic would like to have a greater transparency in what China is seeking to do in not only its build up, but in the exercises that it undertakes," said Marles. "We want to have the most productive relationship with China that we can have ... we hope that in the context of that productive relationship, we can see greater transparency and greater communication between our two countries in respect of our defence." Both Australia and New Zealand raised concerns in February after three Chinese warships conducted unprecedented live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea. Both nations complained of late notice over the drills by China, which led to the diversion of 49 commercial flights. Marles said that while the drills were in accordance with international law, China should have been less disruptive. He also said Australia was able to closely scrutinise the Chinese task-force. "It's fair to say that this was done in a bigger way than they have done before, but equally, that was meant from our point of view, by a much greater degree of surveillance than we've ever done," he said. "From the moment that Chinese warships came within the vicinity of Australia, they were being tailed and tracked by Australian assets ... we were very clear about what exercises China was undertaking and what capability they were seeking to exercise and to build." Chinese officials have signalled that more such exercises could be expected as it was routine naval activity in international waters. Defence analysts say the exercises underscore Beijing's ambition to develop a global navy that will be able to project power into the region more frequently. Australia has in recent times pledged to boost its missile defence capability amid China's nuclear weapons buildup and its blue-water naval expansion, as the country targets to increase its defence spending from roughly 2% of GDP currently to 2.4% by the early 2030s. The nation is scheduled to pay the United States $2 billion by the end of 2025 to assist its submarine shipyards, in order to buy three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines starting in 2032 - its biggest ever defence project.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Major update after frantic search was launched for man feared to have been eaten by crocodiles
The body of a man last seen jumping off a bridge into croc-infested waters has been recovered following an extensive search and rescue operation in the Darwin Harbour. Local man Brendan, 55, disappeared after jumping from the Channel Island Bridge. Police say he was reportedly with workmates when he jumped off the bridge into the water at 9:42pm on Friday. They said he was initially laughing but suddenly began drifting away. There were strong tidal currents and Brendan appeared to struggle before disappearing from view. Despite efforts from his friends to encourage him back to shore, Brendon was last seen in the middle of the channel, heading toward Darwin City. The search and rescue operation commenced after his friends lost sight of him and continued until the early hours of Saturday morning. NT Police Search and Rescue Section, a Careflight helicopter and the Port Authority assisted in the search. The coordinated effort included two helicopters, two NT Police vessels, Surf Life Saving crews, NT Emergency Service volunteers, Crocodile Management teams, and NT Police officers conducting foot patrols along nearby coastlines. His body was sighted in the water near East Arm Wharf about 11.30am on Saturday. NT Police said the body matches the description of an individual who was last seen entering the water about 9:40pm on Friday. Formal identification is yet to be completed. Last year, authorities launched a rescue operation on Channel Island, after he became stuck in the mangroves. Police received reports a man had become trapped in the mangroves, approximately 700metres from the nearest main road. Due to the shallow water levels, rescue crews were unable to reach him by boat. Instead, officers deployed a jet ski to navigate the difficult terrain and were able to reach the man and bring him to shore. Upon recovery, the man was reportedly disoriented and showing signs of delirium, believed to be the result of extreme dehydration. He was immediately transported to Royal Darwin Hospital for medical treatment.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Two men jailed after cannabis worth £500,000 found in Hertford
Two men have been jailed after cannabis estimated to be worth more than £500,000 was discovered at a Police found the drug in a building in Mimram Road, Hertford, on 9 April following reports of suspicious Makaj, 35, and Bylbyl Nezaj, 36, both pleaded guilty to the production of a Class B were both sentenced to three years imprisonment at St Albans Crown Court on 20 May. When officers arrived at the property, the men attempted to escape through the roof but were arrested and taken into police building had been converted into a cannabis factory and its power supply had been tampered with "dangerously", said Hertfordshire Police. Det Con Charlotte Bell, from the East Herts Local Crime Unit, said: "Cannabis factories, in particular, pose a significant risk to those living close by, as criminals often seek to access free electricity and set up unsafe wiring to power the lamps and fans needed to grow the plants."They will often knock down walls and block off ventilation to prevent the smell escaping, causing damp and structural damage which can affect adjoining properties."She added: "All drugs and the criminality associated with their use and supply can have devastating effects on local communities."They are often linked to acquisitive crime, such as burglary and theft, as well as violent offences, which leave innocent residents living in fear." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
