Researchers warn marijuana edibles can impact older adults' heart health

Since marijuana legalisation in the US, there has been a lot of information about its various health benefits. You'll even find it in many beauty products. However, some researchers say people need to be mindful about the amount they consume.

"Marijuana can be a useful tool for many patients, especially for pain and nausea relief. At the same time, like all other medications, it does carry risks and side effects," Alexandra Saunders from the Dalhousie University in Canada, told a news portal.

Researchers studied cases which showed the drug's harmful effects. In one case, a patient developed severe chest pain and myocardial ischemia after consuming a lollipop made with marijuana. Another case told of a 70-year-old man with stable coronary artery disease. He consumed a lollipop that contained 90 mg of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). It was supposed to help him sleep and relieve pain; instead, he suffered a serious heart attack due to it.

The "inappropriate dosing and oral consumption of marijuana resulted in distress that caused a cardiac event and subsequent reduced cardiac function," Saunders told a news portal.

Previous research has found a link between cannabis use and cardiovascular adverse events, including stroke and sudden death. The team hopes healthcare providers understand the risks of cannabis use on older adults in order to avoid damaging complications.