Does marijuana use increase the risk of heart disease?

Posted on Wed, 27 May 2015

Question: Hi, I have been diagnosed with Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome. I wanted to know if smoking marijuana will damage my heart at all? I do get an uncomfortable, but not painful, feeling in the left hand side of my chest sometimes when I smoke.

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Following answer to your query...

Detailed Answer:
Hi Reza and thank you for asking!
I read your query and understood your concerns.

Smoking marijuana will cause an increase of heart rate by two folds for three hours after using it. Also marijuana use cause a lowering of blood pressure.

By combining these two factors in a patient with Wolff Parkinson White syndrome marijuana use increase the risk for causing arrhythmia (tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, heart attack etc.) with hypotension and cardiac shock.

As you can see marijuana use in patients with Wolff Parkinson White syndrome increase the risk for causing life threatening cardiac events. This is why i strongly suggest to stop smoking marijuana.

Hope this was of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar