Medical cannabis is finally getting its due as a legitimate medicine for treating a variety of conditions ranging from chronic pain to PTSD. As such, people are now starting to ask questions they have previously asked about other medications. Here’s one: is it safe to use medical cannabis if a person is suffering from heart or liver disease?
Generally speaking, medical cannabis is safe when used under the care of a licensed physician and pharmacist. But safe doesn’t mean risk-free. There are always risks that come with any drug. Medical cannabis is no exception.
Medical Cannabis and Heart Disease
There are some legitimate concerns about medical cannabis as a drug for heart patients. Medical cannabis would not likely be prescribed for a person’s cardiac problems, but there could be some other condition for which a patient wants to use it. Chronic pain would be a good example.
Brigham City Utah’s Beehive Farmacy explains that chronic pain is the single most cited reason for using medical cannabis, at least in the state of Utah. They go on to say that a Utah medical cannabis pharmacy might recommend against a heart patient using the drug.
Here is the deal: cannabis is known to increase heart rate and blood pressure. Both increase a heart patient’s risk of heart attack and stroke. So even if a small dose of medical cannabis could help a chronic pain patient with heart disease, that patient should first talk to their doctor.
What the Experts Say About It
The risks associated with heart patients taking medical cannabis are becoming more widely known as scientific studies have increased. Here is what the experts have said about it thus far:
- Daily Consumption – Daily cannabis consumption leads to a 25% higher risk of heart attack and a 42% higher risk of stroke, compared to not using cannabis at all.
- Blood Flow – Cannabis consumption has been linked to a narrowing of the blood vessels around the heart. This makes it harder for the heart to pump blood.
- Irregular Heartbeat – Cannabis could potentially enhance an irregular heartbeat in patients with existing heart rhythm problems.
- Heart Failure – Cannabis has been linked to a 34% higher risk of heart failure among daily users.
It is also possible that medical cannabis could interact negatively with certain heart medications. Suffice it to say that there is enough concern to warrant caution among heart patients. Anyone suffering from heart disease should consult a doctor before beginning a medical cannabis regimen.
Medical Cannabis and Liver Disease
Medical cannabis’s potential impacts on liver disease are less serious. Nonetheless, caution is still warranted. The root of such caution is the fact that the liver must process the chemicals found in medical cannabis, particularly THC. A person with a bad liver may not be able to process the drug effectively.
There have been some suggestions that medical cannabis consumption can exacerbate hepatitis C, thereby contributing to liver scarring and the progression of the disease itself. And just as with heart disease, patients with liver disease may discover that medical cannabis interacts negatively with their other medications.
Consult With a Doctor or Pharmacist
The jury is still out on the issue of medical cannabis safety among heart and liver patients. So rather than taking risks, it is a better idea for patients to consult with a doctor or pharmacist before taking medical cannabis. Heart and liver disease patients should be especially cautious given the serious nature of their respective diseases. Medical cannabis is not a good choice if it only causes further problems or interacts negatively with other prescription meds.
