Smoking weed on a regular basis can raise your risk of a heart attack
Even though weed is now legal in many states across the country, a heart surgeon has taken the time to explain what smoking a joint is actually doing inside your body. His warning adds more context to conversations about the long-term effects of cannabis, especially as more people use it openly.
Earlier this week, health experts highlighted a condition called cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS). This illness can bring on serious symptoms, including sharp abdominal pain and long episodes of vomiting that can last for hours or even days.
Some people refer to the condition as “scromiting,” which describes the combination of screaming and vomiting at the same time. Reports from people dealing with CHS show that symptoms can continue for as long as 48 hours, and some have claimed they threw up as many as 30 times in a single day.
CHS has now been included in the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases, although doctors are still trying to figure out what causes it. One of the most talked-about theories suggests that long-term cannabis use may overstimulate receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Many people assume that smoking weed carries fewer risks than using other substances. But one heart surgeon has stepped in to explain why that belief can be misleading and how cannabis use may affect a person’s overall health.
