Latest news with #hearthealth
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Armed and dangerous' suspect search continues; cannabis use linked to heart disease
PHOENIX - From detectives asking for the community's help in finding a homicide suspect to cannabis edibles being just as dangerous to heart health as smoking marijuana, according to a new study, here's a look at some of the top stories on for Saturday, May 31, 2025. Homicide detectives are seeking answers after a deadly shooting near 35th Avenue and Rose Garden Lane. Detectives were able to uncover information and evidence that led to identifying Joseph Jennings, and they're now looking for the community's help in trying to locate more. The issue of immigration was top of mind after ICE agents showed up several days in a row outside of the courts in downtown Phoenix. Read more. Long-term cannabis use in any form has been linked to a greater risk of heart disease. In a new study, researchers at UC San Francisco determined that eating edible cannabis, such as gummies, has the same impact on cardiovascular risk as smoking marijuana. Read more. There is a new twist in the Preston Lord murder case, as one of the suspects in the case has turned down a plea deal. Read more. Arcadia High School students, 18-year-old Pandora Kjolsrud and 17-year-old Evan Clark, were found dead in the Tonto National Forest. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office now says the two teens were shot to death, and the community is responding to the murders. Read more.
Health Line
2 days ago
- General
- Health Line
When Should You Have a Heart Health Checkup?
An important part of preventive healthcare, some heart health screening tests may start around age 20. Other tests may not be needed until you are older. Routine heart health screenings are an important part of preventive healthcare for adults. Some heart health screening tests should begin as early as age 20, recommends the American Heart Association (AHA). Other heart health screenings may begin later in life. Your doctor can help you learn which screenings you should get and how often you should get them. Read on to learn about the steps you can take to monitor your heart health. When should you get a heart checkup? Even if you have no history of heart disease, the AHA recommends the following schedule for heart health screenings: Weight and BMI: during regular annual checkups Blood pressure tests: at least once every 2 years, starting by age 20 Blood cholesterol tests: at least once every 4 to 6 years, starting by age 20 Blood glucose tests: at least once every 3 years, typically starting at age 40 to 45 They may also order high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) testing. This test measures C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation or infection that's associated with increased risk of heart attack. If you have certain risk factors for heart disease or a strong family history, your doctor might encourage you to start these screenings at a younger age than usual. For example, your doctor may recommend earlier or more frequent screening if you have: high blood pressure, blood cholesterol, or blood sugar a heart condition, such as atrial fibrillation a family history of heart disease overweight or obesity prediabetes or diabetes certain lifestyle factors, like smoking tobacco had complications during pregnancy, such as high blood pressure, preeclampsia, or gestational diabetes Ask your doctor how often you should undergo heart health screenings, based on your medical history and health needs. What to expect A routine heart health checkup doesn't typically involve complicated tests. During a heart health checkup, your doctor will talk to you about how you're feeling and offer you screening tests to assess your cardiovascular health and risk factors. Your cardiovascular system includes your heart and blood vessels. As part of the checkup, they'll look for any signs of heart disease and consider your risk for developing heart disease in the future. To monitor the health of your heart, your doctor should routinely: assess your weight and BMI measure your blood pressure order blood tests to check your cholesterol and blood sugar levels ask about your diet, physical activity, and smoking history ask about your personal and family medical history ask whether you've noticed any changes in your health If the results of your screening tests show signs of heart disease or a high risk of developing heart disease, your doctor may order additional tests. Additional heart health tests If your doctor thinks you might have heart disease, they may order one of more of the following tests to assess your heart health: Electrocardiography (ECG, EKG): Small, sticky electrodes are applied to your chest and attached to a special machine, known an ECG machine. This machine records your heart's electrical activity and provides information about your heart rate and rhythm. Exercise cardiac stress test: Electrodes are applied to your chest and attached to an ECG machine. Then you're asked to walk or run on a treadmill, or pedal on a stationary bike, while a healthcare professional assesses your heart's response to physical stress. Echocardiography: A healthcare professional uses an ultrasound machine to create moving images of your heart to see if you have problems with the pumping function of your heart, and to assess your heart valves. Sometimes, they may do this before and after you've exercised or taken certain medications to learn how your heart responds to stress. Nuclear stress test: A small amount of radioactive dye is injected into your bloodstream, where it travels to your heart. A healthcare professional uses an imaging machine to take pictures while you're at rest and after exercise to learn how blood is flowing through your heart. Cardiac CT scan for calcium scoring: You're positioned under a CT scanner with electrodes attached to your chest to record your heart's electrical activity. A healthcare professional uses the CT scanner to create images of your heart and check for plaque buildup in your coronary arteries. Coronary CT angiography (CTA): Similar to the test above, you lie under a CT scanner with electrodes attached to your chest so a healthcare professional can record your heart's activity and create pictures of your heart based on the CT scan's images. A contrast dye is injected into your bloodstream to make it easier for them to see plaque buildup in your coronary arteries. Coronary catheter angiography: A small tube, or catheter, is inserted into your groin or arm and threaded through an artery to your heart. Contrast dye is injected through the catheter while a healthcare professional takes X-ray pictures of your heart, allowing them to see if your coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked. If you receive a diagnosis of heart disease, your doctor may recommend a combination of lifestyle changes, medications, or other treatments to manage it. How much do heart checkups cost? You may be able to access heart health screening tests at low or no cost, depending on where you live and your insurance coverage. If you don't have health insurance, federal health centers offer many essential health services regardless of ability to pay. You can see if there's a qualified health center near you using their search tool. Some pharmacies also offer free heart health screenings in February, National Heart Health Month. If you have health insurance, you may have no cost for basic heart checkup tests. Under the Affordable Care Act, many health insurance plans are required to cover the cost of certain preventive health screenings with no copayment, coinsurance, or deductible fee. Depending on your health insurance coverage, age, and health history, you may be able to get blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar screenings for free. If your doctor orders additional tests to evaluate your heart health, you may have charges for those tests. Some or all of the cost of the tests may be covered by your health insurance. If you have health insurance, contact your insurance provider to learn if you're eligible for free heart health screenings. Ask them how much specific tests will cost. How to check your heart health at home Depending on your health history, your doctor might encourage you to monitor your own heart health and risk factors between checkups. For example, they might advise you to monitor one or more of the following: your body weight or BMI, using a scale your blood pressure, using a home blood pressure monitor your blood sugar levels, using a glucose monitor your heart rate and rhythm, using a wearable fitness tracker, smartwatch, or other device If your doctor wants to assess your heart's electrical activity over the course of multiple hours or days, they might ask you to wear a Holter monitor. A Holter monitor is a small battery-operated device that functions as a portable ECG machine. Your doctor may ask you to wear it for 24 to 48 hours before returning the monitor to them. Your doctor may also ask you keep track of your fitness activities, diet, or other lifestyle factors that might affect your heart health. Similarly, they may ask you to log any symptoms of heart disease that you develop. Tips for maintaining heart health To help lower your risk for heart disease, it's important to practice a healthy lifestyle. For example: Avoid smoking tobacco. Get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. Eat a wide variety of nutrient-rich foods, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Limit your consumption of trans fat, saturated fat, and sugar-sweetened foods and drinks. Take steps to manage your weight. Follow your doctor's recommended treatment plan if you've received a diagnosis of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, prediabetes, diabetes, or other health conditions. Getting routine heart health screenings is also important for maintaining your heart health. These screenings can help your doctor identify potential problems early so you can get the treatment you need. The takeaway To monitor your heart health, your doctor may regularly check your: weight blood pressure blood cholesterol blood sugar They will also ask you about your medical history and lifestyle habits, which can affect your chances of developing heart disease. Many other tests are also available to evaluate your heart's function and health, if your doctor thinks you might have developed heart disease.
Health Line
2 days ago
- Health
- Health Line
Chronic Cannabis Use, Including Edibles, Linked to Endothelial Dysfunction
Chronic cannabis use is bad for your heart, whether you smoke it or consume edibles, according to a new study. Researchers found evidence of endothelial dysfunction, an upstream risk factor for cardiovascular disease, in cannabis users regardless of how they used the substance. The research adds to a growing body of research suggesting that cannabis is not benign. New research has linked tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in many cannabis products, to impaired vascular function, a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. A growing body of evidence suggests that smoking THC-containing cannabis likely harms heart health. But far less is known about other forms of cannabis use, such as vaping and edibles. The use of THC-containing cannabis edibles has surged in popularity as legalization has spread across the United States. But a new study published on May 28 in JAMA Cardiology suggests that both modes of cannabis consumption — smoking and ingesting — are associated with endothelial dysfunction, comparable to tobacco smoke in healthy adults. Endothelial dysfunction is a form of heart disease that impairs blood vessels from dilating. Endothelial cells are a thin membrane that lines the inner surface of blood vessels and helps regulate blood flow. 'The bottom line is that smoking marijuana does not appear to avoid the harmful vascular effects of smoking tobacco, and neither does frequent use of THC edibles,' Matthew L. Springer, PhD, professor of medicine at UCSF, and senior author of the research, told Healthline. Other experts agreed, but with some caveats. 'While this study does have limitations, including an inability to prove a direct causal role, it adds to the growing sense that marijuana is not benign, and may be associated with risk for heart disease,' said Nicholas Leeper, MD, professor of vascular surgery and cardiovascular medicine at Stanford Medicine. Leeper was not involved in the study. 'Most prior research has focused on smoking rather than ingesting THC, so this study adds new evidence that edibles may also negatively impact vascular health,' he told Healthline. Effects of cannabis use on vascular function The study, led by researchers at UC San Francisco, examined several measures of vascular health in three distinct groups: chronic cannabis smokers, chronic users of THC edibles, and non-users. The study included 55 participants — males and females with an average age of 31 — who were healthy and had no regular exposure to tobacco through smoking, vaping, or secondhand smoke. Chronic cannabis use was defined as: smoking three or more times per week for at least one year consuming three or more edibles per week for at least one year Cannabis smokers in the study had an average of 10 years of chronic use, while those who took edibles averaged five years. Researchers then studied three distinct measures of vascular function in these groups: Flow-mediated dilation (FMD): How well the blood vessels can relax and widen in response to blood flow — a key function of healthy arteries. Pulse wave velocity (PWV): a widely used measure of arterial stiffness. Nitric oxide (NO) production: NO is essential to heart health and vasodilation. Both cannabis-using groups showed similar declines in FMD — about half as much as non-users — indicating reduced vascular function. Additionally, FMD levels in cannabis users were similar to those reported in tobacco smokers in previous studies. 'Endothelial dysfunction is one of the hallmarks of potential cardiovascular disease later in life,' said Keith C. Ferdinand, MD, FACC, the Gerald S. Berenson Chair in Preventative Cardiology at Tulane University School of Medicine. Ferdinand wasn't involved in the study. 'Although this is not the same as having a heart attack, stroke, hypertension, or other cardiovascular disease, it suggests that in the future, in otherwise healthy persons who use cannabis, there may be an increased risk of vascular disease later,' he continued. Endothelial dysfunction, as measured by FMD, also worsened with heavier use — a pattern known as a dose response: the more participants smoked or consumed, the worse their vascular function became. Researchers also found that when endothelial cells were exposed in vitro to blood serum from cannabis users, NO production dropped significantly, but only in the smoking group, suggesting molecular evidence of dysfunction. This, the authors write, suggests there may be different mechanisms of action depending on the method of cannabis use. 'This discrepancy suggests combustion byproducts (versus THC alone) may drive part of the endothelial injury in smokers,' said Leeper. In contrast to some previous studies, the final measure, PWV, didn't indicate any meaningful difference between cannabis users and non-users. Cannabis and heart health: What are the risks? The study adds to growing evidence that cannabis may harm heart health — regardless of how it's consumed. 'Neither is superior, but there may be an additional harm with smoking beyond that seen with the THC edibles,' said Ferdinand. The study does have limitations. It cannot prove that cannabis use causes endothelial dysfunction — only that the two are linked. Still, it raises the possibility that something inherent in THC may harm heart health, apart from the usual risks of smoking — whether tobacco or cannabis. Especially in a small study like this, firm conclusions about harm can't be drawn, Ferdinand notes. The study focused only on chronic cannabis use, rather than on occasional use. Still, Springer said that based on the dose-response observed, 'if they use relatively little, there's less chance of this adverse effect on the blood vessels.' The clear message to patients and consumers: cannabis is not a benign alternative to tobacco; and though edibles do not share all the same risks as smoking, they aren't harmless either. 'I would caution patients that phrases like 'natural' or 'safer than tobacco' do not mean 'harmless.' Chronic cannabis use — particularly smoking — shows measurable vascular harms. Emphasizing moderation, or ideally cessation, may help reduce their cardiovascular risk,' said Leeper.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
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.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Huge heart attack risk linked to dirty habit that MILLIONS of Americans are doing daily
Regularly smoking weed or consuming edibles may raise the risk of suffering a heart attack, a study suggests. The team from the University of California San Francisco who made the find warns it is 'more evidence cannabis use is not benign.' It also comes amid an alarming rise in unexplained heart attacks in young Americans, which experts are still trying to unpack. In the new study, researchers found people who smoked marijuana or took edibles at least three times a week had up to 52 percent reduced blood vessel function compared to those who never used cannabis. And endothelial cells, which line the blood vessels, were less able to regulate blood flow and deliver crucial oxygen throughout the body. 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.' About 18million Americans use marijuana daily or nearly every day. Cannabis use is also on the rise, largely due to recent decriminalization across the US. From 1992 to 2022, for example, daily and near-daily use has seen a 15-fold rise. The study, published this week in JAMA Cardiology, recruited 55 healthy adults ages 18 to 50 who neither smoked tobacco nor vaped. They also were not regularly exposed to secondhand smoke. They were then sorted into three groups based on chronic cannabis use: using marijuana three times per week for at least a year, consuming at least three THC edibles a week for a year or not using cannabis at all. Cannabis users were 30 years old on average while nonusers were 28. None of the participants had pre-existing heart conditions. They found people who smoked marijuana or used edibles at least three times a week performed worse on tests measuring blood vessel function. Marijuana smokers had a 42 percent reduction in vascular function than controls, while THC edible users had a 52 percent reduction compared to those who never used cannabis. This was determined through heart scans. Endothelial cells, which line the blood vessels and regulate blood flow, released less nitric oxide in people who regularly smoked marijuana or took edibles. Nitric oxide helps blood vessels dilate and deliver vital oxygen throughout the body. This impaired function causes blood vessels to constrict, increasing the risk of inflammation and blood clots, which can lead to heart disease and increase the risk of a heart attack. Nearly 1million Americans every year die of cardiovascular disease, a group of conditions including coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke. It's America's leading cause of death, with cancer and accidental injuries following closest behind. Because the average participant in the new study was 30 years old, the study could help explain why young Americans are increasingly suffering heart attacks. Previous research has suggested the use of drugs like marijuana, as well as conditions like Covid and type 2 diabetes, may be to blame. However, the researchers cautioned the study only shows an association between cannabis and heart function and can't prove direct causation. There were several limitations, including the study's small sample size and the lack of comparison between different strains of cannabis.
