How do phytocannabinoids affect cardiovascular health? An update on the most common cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) causes millions of deaths worldwide each year. Despite the great progress in therapies available for patients with CVD, some limitations, including drug complications, still exist. Hence, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) was proposed as a new avenue for CVDs treatment. The ECS components are widely distributed through the body, including the heart and blood vessels, thus the action of its endogenous and exogenous ligands, in particular, phytocannabinoids play a key role in various pathological states. The cardiovascular action of cannabinoids is complex as they affect vasculature and myocardium directly via specific receptors and exert indirect effects through the central and peripheral nervous system. The growing interest in phytocannabinoid studies, however, has extended the knowledge about their molecular targets as well as therapeutical properties; nonetheless, some areas of their actions are not yet fully recognized. Researchers have reported various cannabinoids, especially cannabidiol, as a promising approach to CVDs; hence, the purpose of this review is to summarize and update the cardiovascular actions of the most potent phytocannabinoids and the potential therapeutic role of ECS in CVDs, including ischemic reperfusion injury, arrhythmia, heart failure as well as hypertension.

Potential perioperative cardiovascular outcomes in cannabis/cannabinoid users. A call for caution

“…Preclinical studies in rats have reported a reduced heart rate in response to CBN; however, this effect has not been found in humans ( 62 , 63 ). The potential cardioprotective effects of CBNs could be related to agonistic interactions with CB2_Rs, TRPV1, and TRPV2 ( 64 , 65 ).…”

Health status outcome among cannabis addicts after treatment of addiction

“…Table [8] revealed that there were no significant correlations in the cannabis user group at admission and after treatment between creatinine and CWAS, tetrahydrocannabinol level, age, and duration of cannabis intake.…”

“…Exposure to Cannabis raises the heart rate and blood pressure and can sometimes cause orthostatic hypotension. Cannabis users have reported severe cardiac problems, including acute coronary syndromes and strokes [8].…”