Cannabis use with Congenital Heart Defects (CHD)

[nici]

Hi All,

 

Just a question to anyone with a CHD; Do you think that Cannabis may pose a risk at all? Have heard that it may do due to the stimulating effects the heart. I find this very hard to believe though, sure there may be some conditions that it would not be recommended to indulge in, but I imagine it would be relatively safe.

 

Thanks all for your experiences and opinions

[weeping angel]

I've been diagnosed with a heart condition that also killed my sister and tried to off my cousin.  Fuckin genetics...anyways being a young idiot the very first thing I asked when diagnosed was "so what about weed? can I still smoke up?" which with my family pressing him to continue had the cardiologist looking for anything to say it would be negative for me to continue using cannabis for at least 10-15 minutes until he gave up for the last time and said although he can't find anything to say it would have any negative effects for the health of my heart that it would still be advisable to stay away from any varieties that give me palpitations, make me paranoid, etc. as my freaking out about such things sets the perfect stage for my heart condition to be triggered.  My parents started raving on about no acceptable risk or something along those lines but all I really remember at that point is wiping sativas off the menu and being heartbroken over it.

 

Now personally I've consumed a ton of drugs since that diagnosis because time has proven that I didn't die before the diagnosis while having the condition and after it I've been treated making me considerably safer than before.  I consider the risk minimal like crossing the road in good conditions.  99.9999999% of the time I'm going to be safe but one day a bus is gonna come out of nowhere and turn me into a human pancake.  So in one hand I have absolute safety and boredom while in the other I have very minimal risk and cannabis.  A decision was made and it's pretty clear what won

 

It should mentioned again that I'm the kind of person to get diagnosed with a very well proven lethal heart condition and in front of all the people in this world that give even the remotest shit about me have the very first words uttered be about continuing my cannabis consumption...You really should ignore everything I've typed and seek a professional medical opinion before proceeding

[louise]

First up, you really should check with a medical professional. Cannabis can play a negative role in some cardiac conditions. 

 

Cannabis is generally vasodilating, so it relaxes and expands the blood vessels and this makes the blood pressure drop... now to keep the same amount of blood flowing around the body the heart must beat faster to accommodate the drop in blood volume.  This rapid increase in heart rate can trigger palpitations and other tachycardia related conditions such as supra ventricular tachycardia. 

[merl1n]

Interesting subject.

I too have a heart condition. Its along the lines of arrhythmia, beats when it wants and skips a few along the way. I take medication for it and that works, now. It took a bit of experimentation to work out which meds worked, but finally found one and now the condition is managed.

As many of you would know from previous posts I also have a nasty growing in my brain. This causes some goddamn awful headaches along with all sorts of other pain and sensations from head to toe. I've been given some wicked painkillers to manage the headaches and sure, they manage the pain but wipe me out bigtime. Canna allows me to manage my head pain and not be wiped out. Is smoking any good for my heart? NO!! But the taking of high dose opiates fucks me up too much. In my (selfish) view its a fine balancing act and canna allows me to function and not be off my nut. The heart meds manage the arrhythmia and the canna in combination with lesser opiates helps to manage my head. And for me it works.

I have in the past spoken to dr's about this and some are SO VERY negative towards canna "...its an illegal substance..." but others have said "...if it works, use it...". But that is me and for me and by no means a recommendation for anybody else. There are many conditions where canna can be more of an irritant. You really do need a one on one with a professional. At least if you have the information from a specialist who is going to know, especially if he runs you through all the tests, then you can make an informed decision for YOU.

 

Edit: DOH! as Lou said above "...you really should check with a medical professional..."

 

Good luck with it all

 

Merl1n

Edited August 30, 2015 by merl1n

[itchybromusic]

I can't talk to heart conditions or any other condition but if your growing with chems & using petrochemical based fungicide & pesticide

your not doing any condition any good , these chems don't go away once in our environment & me/you/we are possibly growing medicine

or even just giving away to friends , some of these things are systemic so they ain't getting flushed ,

 

What Are You Producing & Giving To Other People ? ,  

 

Just an opinion 

[Psychonaut]

Just an FYI for those with heart conditions, in Japan CoQ10 was approved for treating CHD like 40 years ago. There is a good article covering the subject here,

 

http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2008/2/Alleviating-Congestive-Heart-Failure-With-Coenzyme-Q10/Page-01

 

Only issue is it is a quite an expensive supplement and you need real solid doses of it (200-300mg+) for benefit with such a serious condition. It should be standard complimentary treatment but as usual it is just a case of bias in the system.  

 

It is also an article anyone using Statins should read, if your GP has not recommended CoQ10 to use alongside your Statin, might be time to find a new GP. 

Edited October 11, 2015 by Psychonaut