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Cannabis and your Heart

bluedolphin

bluedolphin

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This was discussed in a prior thread, but the discussion was spotty and incomplete:

http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=113904&highlight=heart

So let's try a fresh one. When I smoke pot, depending on the strain, my heartrate can increase ranging from a mild increase to very rapid and strong beats, as if I were engaged in strenuous cardiovascular exercise, even though I'm usually just sitting on a couch or something.

Sometimes (but rarely), on the occasions where my heart is particularly affected, like if I've just smoked several bong hits of some strong Sativa weed, my heart beats so fast that I can feel the tension in my chest.

If I mix weed with stimulants like amphetamine or cocaine these more extreme cardio effects are even more likely to occur. Therefore I smoke pot very slowly and carefully when coming down off these kinds of drugs. Mixing pot with LSD seems to get my heart pumping way beyond its normal duties as well.

..........

This used to be a cause of panic attacks but now I've gotten used to it, stopped smoking rediculous amounts of pot in a single session, and avoid mixing pot with other serious drugs. I never smoke pot anywhere close to the peak of a psychedelic drug because I know its a great way for me to freak out and have a very difficult trip while I'm preoccupied worrying about whether my heart will finally explode or not.

Maybe I should note that this was *never* a problem until a year and a half ago when I smoked some pot while peaking on DXM (something I had done dozens of times before) and had a panic attack thinking I would die any second from a heart attack.

...........

Anyway, assuming I smoke a normal amount of pot and my heartrate is, let's say only 50% above my normal resting rate, is this bad for my heart?

On one hand, it seems like my heart is actually getting some good exercise. On the other hand, when it feels like it's going to burst out of my chest, that can't be good.

...........

Also, do you think if I got in better shape in general (three years ago I was much buffer/fitter than I am today) this wouldn't happen?
 
i used to get really rapid heartbeats when i smoked...
honestly, i don't know why it happened or what the impact of it was, but the problem's solved now that i just... smoke more weed.
i think a lot of it does go hand-in-hand with panic attacks, because it always preceeded one, so maybe it is more of a psychological issue rather than a physical one.
however, it's quite possible that i could be talking outta my ass and i don't know it.
it's worth looking into...
 
That's definitely very normal, and as syymphonatic kinda alluded to, it was the increase in heart rate that was precipitating your panic attacks.

Taking cannabis has been blamed for a handful of heart attacks, and I don't really have any reasons to challenge the assertions made by those physicians.

I SUSPECT that the case is that, so long as your coronary arteries are in good shape, then the relatively modest increase in heart rate caused by cannabis is not going to do you any harm. As you say, it will just be like having a big work out.

See, I don't quite know (and I suspect nobody does), the exact nature of the sympathetic activity that happens as a result of cannabis use, BUT, if it is a general increase, then what could conceivably happen, is that if you get a MASSIVE increase in (nor)adrenaline, you could get a spasm in your coronary artery. Kinda like a transient case of atherosclerosis, caused by muscular contractions. If that happened, you could find yourself having a heart attack very rapidly.

This is probably what happened here.
 
Could it be that people who are getting elevated heart rates are also spinning their mix ? ..

I've been getting more of these "elevated heart rate sessions" while smoking also, and just like you guys above, it seems to trigger panic, then the panic makes the heart go faster which makes me stress even more... what a bad cycle that is.

I thought the heart rate was due to the tobacco but i have not smoked without tobacco for nearly a year and i dont think i got the higher beats back then, or maybe i was just less aware of my heart.
 
in theory:wouldnt you be losing weight, if you didnt eat anything while you were blazed?
 
I don't believe cannabis can causae a heart attack. I would think that if you are a 400 pound obese man who has extremely high chlorestorol and is very exerted at the time of hitting a bowl and was borderline heart attack before he he decided to take a hit, I think that might push you over the edge, but not anymore than a cup of coffee.
 
Does anyone know any remedies for this pounding heart thing? It's gotten so bad for me personally that I almost can't bear to smoke any longer. It's just too much for my mind,and presumably, my body...
 
Beta blockers, if you can get them. I find it makes smoking a lot more plesant, also caffine is a lot more fun.

You could also TRY some asprin, or diclofenac.
 
I used to get that all the time. Had two real panicky experiences because of it when I was realllly stoned, thought I was going to have a heart attack and all. Now I can just acknowledge that my heart rate speeds up and feels a little funny, but I don't let it bother me anymore.
 
Hmm, i've looked around a little bit (@ work atm so cant go lookng to hard),
But it seems pot reduces blood pressure. This can be seen in people who already have low blood pressure and smoke with the side effect of passing out.

Also those kids that died of stroke after smoking pot , they think blood pressure flow to the brain was changed and caused stroke.
 
I don't know whether I should be smoking weed or not. Because since year 5 ive had a irregular heart beat, my heart would go at unbeleiveable rates. I remember at one point in year 9 it made my vision go all black and sparkly, Which I dought is a good thing. But since I started drinknig alcohol and smoking pot I haven't had this problem. A long time ago I was meant to be tested for my problem but my appointment was canceled and I never found ot what was wrong with me. What do you guys think? I know my heart still goes at unbeleivable rates every now and then, but this is when I am not smoking pot. To me this is very confusing and i love bud and id hate to give it up. We all die one day right?:p
 
slintstix: Cannabis actually temporarily reduces blood pressure.


The likliness of cannabis inducing a heart attack is still unknown, so sorry I don't have an answer. But you're not the only one wondering about this. I wonder how my body can handle some of my psychedelic peak experiences when combining cannabis. 2C-i + weed was pretty bad on a high dose, but the worst I have ever had was 2 points of meth, some acid and weed... in a hardcore dayclub... The meth just made me push my body too far and forgot to drink any water while dancing all night/morning... but at one point I remember sopinning out, seeing a corridoor where the chill out lounges and pool table/games are, because my heart was pumping away at around 170BPM.. I have had panic attacks before off weed alone, and sober, but I learnt how to control them, so I just ingore my heart at all times now. Fuck fearing it, that brings it on. Fear = Paranoia = Anxiety...
 
Splatt said:
the worst I have ever had was 2 points of meth, some acid and weed... in a hardcore dayclub... The meth just made me push my body too far and forgot to drink any water while dancing all night/morning... but at one point I remember sopinning out, seeing a corridoor where the chill out lounges and pool table/games are, because my heart was pumping away at around 170BPM..
Click to expand...

I've counted 180bpm :\

Good replies guys, since it seems like more than a few people have this same concern I hope the discussion keeps going on this.
 
Get weed with a high CBD content, creeper weed.. CBD, just like beta-blockers, counteracts the racing heart.
 
Blowmonkey: Yeah sativa weed is way more prone to giving panic attacks.

Bluedolphin: You're my boy Blue! ermm.. just finished watching oldschool. :p Yeah I was going to type 180bpm as thats what I truly believe I counted, but people would call me full of it. It was very fucking fast anyway and I had to sit down or fall over.
 
I used to be able to smoke as much as I wanted.. then I completely freaked out on some unknown drug. After that everytime I smoked weed I would get a really bad panic attack. Now I smoke waaaaay less and don't get panic attacks BUT my heart still beats really fast and my chest gets tight. I'm actually thinking about quitting puffing cause it just doesn't do any good anymore which really sucks.. My body feels like shit and my head feels stupid. blah.

Maybe if I took a break for a while and then tried smoking again it would be alright.. but then again maybe the panic attacks would start again. who knows..
 
I've also had very very intense heartrate increases on 2C-I and Cannabis. It's an absolutely delightful combo, but when you push one or the other to the limit (or in my case, both), it can get to the "I-need-to-lay-in-a-dark-quiet-room" point very very quickly. :\

I've also counted heartrates of 180-200...some may call it bullshit, but I counted several times. I know what I counted.

The key is smoking slowly, but taking huge rips can be so fun. :(

Beta blockers, eh...?
 
Atenolol I'm fairly sure is a beta-blocker and I have ample access to that.

Ive tried eating one before hitting it up, but nothing seems to be helped. Should i take it sooner? Few hours before?
 
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