A new study looking into the effect of THC on a specific type of stroke found worse outcomes for patients who were marijuana users.
A new study found that people dealing with a bleeding stroke might face worse outcomes if they’re also cannabis consumers. The study is the largest of its kind to look into the impact of THC on this severe form of stroke.
Published in the journal Stroke, the study examined the effect of THC on a specific type of bleeding stroke called aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. This occurs when a blood vessel bursts on the surface of the brain, creating a bleeding patch between the brain and the surface above. It’s a serious condition, one that isn’t all that common, occurring less than 200,000 times a year.
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Per the study’s findings, regular marijuana users who’ve experienced this stroke are twice as likely to face worse outcomes when compared to non-cannabis users.
The study analyzed data from over 1,000 patients treated with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and looked into their urine samples, comparing and contrasting those who’ve consumed substances (including THC) within the past three days and those who hadn’t. The former were more likely to experience negative side effects like delayed cerebral ischemia (a condition that occurs when the brain doesn’t have enough oxygen flow), long-term disability, and even death.
An interesting discovery that the study made was the fact that out of all the substances tested, only cannabis increased the risk of delayed cerebral ischemia.
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While the results are not wholly understood, studies like this show how important it is for doctors to have a full picture of their patients’ habits, helping them be on the lookout for symptoms and side effects that they might not have been expecting. While the connection between cannabis and bleeding strokes is conclusive, it’s significant enough to warrant more studying, especially since cannabis is becoming an increasingly available substance.
