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07:28
Real-time Pressure-volume Analysis of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Mice
Published on: July 2, 2018
Marijuana use and acute myocardial infarction: Mechanistic insights, clinical implications, and emerging challenges
Sarib Sultan1, Adeel Ahmed1, Yasmin Obeidi1
1Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU-COM), Texas, USA.
The American Journal of Medicine
|June 27, 2026
Summary
Cannabis use, increasingly common, may increase heart attack risk, especially in young adults. It affects the heart through various mechanisms, highlighting the need for clinical screening.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Cannabis (marijuana) is the most frequently used illicit substance in the U.S.
- Its use has nearly doubled in the past decade.
- Emerging evidence links cannabis use to acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), particularly in young individuals lacking traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms by which cannabis use may precipitate acute myocardial infarction.
- To discuss the influence of genetic variability on individual susceptibility.
- To examine the cardiovascular risks associated with cannabis use in patients with established coronary artery disease and post-percutaneous coronary intervention.
Main Methods:
- Review of accumulating evidence implicating cannabis use in acute myocardial infarction.
- Analysis of physiological mechanisms including sympathetic activation, carboxyhemoglobin elevation, vasospasm, endothelial dysfunction, and prothrombotic state.
- Examination of genetic factors (cannabinoid receptor expression, CYP2C9 metabolism) modulating susceptibility.
- Evaluation of population-based and conflicting prospective data on cardiovascular risk in frequent users and post-PCI patients.
Main Results:
- Cannabis use triggers acute myocardial infarction via increased oxygen demand, impaired delivery, vasospasm, endothelial dysfunction, and enhanced platelet activation.
- Genetic variations influence individual susceptibility to cannabis-induced cardiovascular events.
- Frequent cannabis use is associated with elevated cardiovascular risk in patients with coronary artery disease.
- Cannabidiol may inhibit CYP2C19, potentially impairing clopidogrel bioactivation in post-PCI patients.
Conclusions:
- Cannabis use is a significant, potentially modifiable risk factor for acute myocardial infarction.
- Screening for cannabis use is crucial in clinical practice.
- Further prospective studies are needed to establish evidence-based management guidelines for cannabis users, especially concerning cardiovascular health and antiplatelet therapy.
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