people aged between 19 and 30, half of them were cannabis users. They employed ultrasound imaging to examine the heart and arteries in all of the individuals. They assessed arterial stiffness and its function, or the potential of the arteries to expand correctly in response to increased blood flow. All three of these tests are markers of cardiovascular function and disease risk.
Cannabis users had higher arterial stiffness than non-users. The researchers assessed the speed at which a pressure wave traveled through the artery; stiffer arteries transmitted waves faster. Cannabis users had worse cardiac function compared to non-users, as measured by how the heart moves on echocardiographic images. According to Cheung, the team was shocked to see no difference in arterial dilatation in response to altering blood flow. In cigarette smokers, all three metrics change, with stiffer arteries and worse vascular and cardiac function. According to Cheung, differences will be shown depending on how tobacco and cannabis are ingested, as well as quantity and frequency, and the user’s age. He said, “We looked at young cannabis users. In the cigarette literature, heavy, long-term smokers show reduced vascular function but that’s not necessarily the case for younger smokers.”
The University of Guelph researchers intend to conduct more research to learn more about the potential effects of these changes and disease risk in cannabis users. Burr said, “This is exciting new data, suggesting that even before more overt signs and symptoms of cardiovascular disease are present, there may be more subtle indications in altered physiological function. It also paves the way to our next studies, aimed at understanding the direct effects of cannabis consumption, and how this may interact with common stressors of everyday life, like exercise.” According to Cheung, very few research have been conducted on the effects of cannabis use on cardiovascular health. He said, “This is an exciting field of research given the ubiquity of cannabis use and the knowledge gap that exists, it’s a field ripe with opportunity.”
