Recently, a team of researchers looked at how long term marijuana use can impact someone who has heart surgery. What they found was that those who have used cannabis for an extended period of time tend to have worse results than those who abstain from using.
Those who used marijuana were more likely to see blocks in a procedure called a lower extremity bypass. It also put them at a higher risk of future amputation.
They concluded that doctors should discuss marijuana use with patients prior to surgery. They stated that this may help doctors to better prepare for complications, and even help determine alternative courses of treatment.
This study came out of the University of Michigan. The team published their results in the journal, Annals of Vascular Surgery. It’s one of the first studies to really focus on the health impact of long term cannabis use, and how it can impact those with other health issues. In this case, it looked at the relationship between marijuana and heart disease. Hopefully, this helps to act as a starting point for future researchers to continue in the same line of study.
Marijuana usage is legal in many parts of the United States now. Long term users are finding that not needing to hide their usage any more has helped to relieve a lot of the social stigma that may have been aimed at them in the past. But just because the legal status of this substance has changed does not mean that using cannabis is always the healthiest choice. As this research indicates, it could be especially problematic for those that have–or might have–heart health issues.
Taking an informed stance when it comes to health is an important part of wellbeing as someone ages. As we age, the health issues that might have seemed manageable at a younger age can compound and cause complications that are not quite as easy to manage.
The complication is that many states have approved marijuana for medical purposes, in addition to the recreational element of it. Cannabis is used to help treat chronic pain, anxiety, muscle spasms, nausea from cancer treatments, and much more. But like other medications, there are always side effects. The side effects from cannabis use look like they are more severe than what many people had originally thought. This doesn’t mean that it’s right for everyone, but it deserves some extra thought and consideration before usage begins. Unfortunately, that’s not something everyone has the foresight to do.
Complications as we age are far more common than what we’d like them to be. But knowing what some of the potential issues that you or an older family member might face can make dealing with those issues a little bit easier. If you’re unsure of where to start, please speak with a doctor who is familiar with your health history.
If you’d like to learn more about how senior care fits into the overall picture of healthy aging, we’re here for you. Give us a call today to get a free consultation session scheduled.
Leave a Reply