Marijuana and Heart Disease

Heart disease is the number one killer, and while there’s a lot of associations between heart disease and the usage of cigarettes, one thing that people have started to look at is the possibility of whether or not cannabis may offer the same risks. Another new study that was done by researchers actually looked at the possible association between marijuana and its use, and the possibility of increased chances of myocardial infections.  There are also some ways to see how THC may trigger inflammation, and also how it may contribute to atherosclerosis, and some findings on how it may also block inflammation too.

The Research is Mixed 

A big thing to remember is that there are results from this that are mixed, and also not conclusive too. There was a statement put out directly by the American heart association, and it was seen as a possible greenlight to say that marijuana is safe, as the authors said it’s based on the information available currently. 

It’s been found that the lifetime and the current recent usage of cannabis did not show any increase in cadence in heart disease of any time, and the mortality of such. The evidence, however, is not conclusive for any outcomes on a cardiovascular level, and it also does need to have better studies. 

A lot of researchers have started to worry about the challenges that are created through the illegality of the usage of marijuana, and also, how it’s forbidden. A lot of these studies are based on broad amounts of trends, or the information from self-reports. The data does induce a lot of inaccuracy, and other variables, including a frequency of the usage, and the information lacking on the products that get consumed. 

Another thing is the behaviors that are confounding, and usually need to also be looked at, such as the consumption of alcohol, the health overall, and the usage of tobacco too. 

The potential Risks 

There was another study that actually looked at new risk assessments, that were found based on information within the U.K Biobank, which is a big study of more than 500,000 different people up to the age of 69, and it was done over a ten-year period. This was found that those who used marijuana did identify as having more risks for heart attacks when they turned 50. Another risk assessment that looked at the controls for their age, and also their sex and BMI as well.

They didn’t have tobacco use on this as another variable, however. When they used cannabis as a specific risk factor that was controlled when they looked at the age and the BMI, it was found that they couldn’t address the entire sample size.  When they analyzed the base effect and also whether or not they also had cigarette smoking, this hazard ratio when it came to how many cardiovascular events would happen tended to be more than just smoking regular cigarettes.

Those who had a history of issues with the heart, tend to be at a much higher risk for those heart problems, and it’s important that, if you do have a history of this, you may want to consult with someone, as well in order to determine the correct types of therapies for you.

Right now, the studies that we have are quite limited, and it’s imperative to make sure that you also take a look at these studies, and everything that may play a part. We still don't know, but there is a lot of research that looks into the potential that this has for people.

All About Couch Lock

If you’re someone who has felt like doing absolutely nothing after having a lot of cannabis, you’re not alone. Some strains can make you feel like you’re tied to your chair, unable to do anything else. This is known in cannabis circles as couch lock. This is hard for people to sometimes get over, especially if they want to do stuff, but instead just feel like vibing for what feels like forever but sometimes it’s not always a bad thing. 

What couch lock Is 

This is a term that’s used in a lot of cannabis circles, which means that you’re overwhelmingly sedated, and in a form of relaxation that's deep and sedated, and this is usually done after consuming lots of cannabis. It’s common for a lot of people to deal with this when they’re high. For some people, it’s actually pretty desirable because it can help with the pain, insomnia, or stress that happens. Some people don’t like it though because it comes on during inopportune times when they want to do things. 

The Causes of This 

Cannabis couch lock is because of what’s inside the plant. There is nothing that actually says straight up just what part is causing the couch lock. But some strains are more potent and cause this than others. Something with indica does cause this more than say, sativa in a lot of cases. Sativa strains are good for being uplifting, but some of them can have some similarities to the indicas, and in a few cases, they also create couch lock.

One big thing that does determine this, is myrcene. Myrcene, for those who don’t know, is a terpene, which is used by the plant to ward off and get rid of invaders, but it’s also super sedative. Anything with a myrcene terpene inside that's greater than half a percentage is going to cause couch lock, regardless of whether or not it’s a sativa or indica. 

About Couch Lock 

Couch lock is more than just the slight tiredness that you’ll feel after a strain. It also causes the following: 

• Feeling like you can go to sleep 

• Sluggish feelings 

• Very relaxed 

• A heavy feeling that starts to make your limbs feel like weights 

This is because of all of the different effects of the sedation coming together. You feel like you’re practically stuck in the seat, unable to get up or go anywhere. Some people don’t like this because it’s a discomforting feeling, but for some people who use cannabis to help with sleeping, this could be the perfect ay for you to actually enjoy getting a good night’s rest. 

The length of Couch Lock 

This can be determined by the high that you get, and how long this is. The time frame of this does depend on a few factors, including how you choose to ingest this. For instance, those who inhale, vape, or smoke cannabis usually get a high that can last up to four or more hours. 

Sometimes, people who have edibles may have a much longer high, as it can be up to 8 hours, sometimes more, but it can take much longer for the high to begin to affect you. Having higher dosages also plays a much bigger part in this too. This is because THC stays around for a lot longer, and it can make you feel the feelings of deep sedation. 

Also, remember this too. Cannabis does impact the person’s life differently, so the high length and the couch lock that you’re experiencing depends on your tolerance as well.

How to Come Down from a High

There is nothing better than getting off of a long work weed, heading home on a Friday night with some Chinese food, and smoking a bowl on the couch with your dog (or cat, if that’s how you live your life). It is a great feeling to know that you don’t have to worry about any responsibilities for the next few hours and that you can just enjoy the high. However, we have all had some early morning or mid-afternoon smoking sessions that perhaps went on a little longer than what you imagined. Maybe you are enjoying your Saturday by smoking a new marijuana strain, and suddenly you learned that your parents are coming over for dinner. Now you are 3 grams deep into your euphoric high, but the chill mood is ruined as you have to figure out a way to come down before your parents get here. We have all been there, and it can be super annoying to have to deal with this. 

I will start off this article by saying that there is no quick way to come down from a marijuana high, so don’t think that you’ll just go from being in the clouds to being back to soberness. However, there are a few different ways that you can reduce your high and be more functional as a result. If you are running out of time or need to go off and do something later but are too high from your smoking session, using these tips might help you come down a little bit by the time you need to head off. I hope that this article is helpful for you, as these are tips that I have used plenty of times in my professional and personal life when it comes to smoking weed while simultaneously having responsibilities. Honestly, I wish I could just sit around and smoke weed all day without having to worry about anything or anyone else, but that is sadly not the reality that most of us live in.

One of the most effective ways at reducing your high is by eating something. Ever wondered why you get the munchies? Well, it’s not just because everything tastes and smells amazing when you’re high. In fact, there are actually some scientific reasons as for why you want to clean out your cupboards after smoking weed or taking an edible. THC lowers your blood glucose level, and eating a snack after smoking will elevate your blood sugar. In a sense, this stops your high from escalating so that you do not get any higher. That is why eating something is a very good way to moderate and manage your high. Again, don’t expect to be completely sober after eating a snack or two. 

However, eating food is definitely going to help the THC work through your bloodstream more quickly and ultimately accelerate you getting sober. Similarly, it can also be helpful to drink some water to come down from a high. Whenever I am smoking, I always keep a drink of some sort on hand as well as a big water bottle to take some sips from. Staying hydrated is a super important part of smoking weed, but drinking water can also help your body eliminate the THC from its system faster. If water is not enough, you can always turn to the amazing drink that is coffee. Coffee is probably my favorite beverage ever, and since it is high in caffeine, it can be very effective at boosting your energy and making you feel more alert.