Cannabis use appears to change the structure of the heart, researchers reveal

Regular cannabis use could affect the structure and function of the heart, according to new research.

Scientists at Queen Mary University in London, England, analysed MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) pictures from a cohort of around 3,400 people and identified an association between regular cannabis use and an enlarged left ventricle, the heart’s main pumping chamber, together with early signs of impairment of heart function.

The analysis found that people who had used cannabis regularly but then gave it up had similar heart size and function to those who had rarely or never taken the drug.

“Our findings are not conclusive but the research took place against a backdrop of decriminalization and legalization of recreational cannabis use in many countries,” lead author Dr. Mohammed Khanji, senior clinical lecturer at Queen Mary, said.

Cillian O’Brien
CTVNews.ca Writer
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