Is pot more of a risk if used by a person with a heart murmur?

My girlfriends has a heart murmur. She is 18 and lives a fairly heathy lifestyle. Recently, she has been interested in trying pot, but has not yet. I know pot isn't the worst thing for a person to use, but I understand the most of the risk. However, I'm unsure of the risks when used by someone with a heart problem. Does a heart murmur add to the risk of pot use, and if so what is the seriousness of the risk?

[Smiley2000]

Hi there,

Pot will cause palpitations and fast heart rate.  With a leaking valve/murmur the heart already has to work harder to supply the body of blood and oxygen and she DOES NOT need to add to an existing heart problem.  Pot can also trigger an arrthythmia and I strongly advice her NOT to start using it.

[cindy707]

Good morning Zack....we can go thru all of the medical and physical reasoning of the heart vs. pot but i think the best possible red flags that should be thrown on this one are a little more simple.  I think from your post most likely you've smoked it....its easy Zack think of yourself and how it makes you feel and what it does to you.....now concentrate on the the pot and your girlfriends heart not her mind or body.....think about how her heart will react to the weed and i think you will have your answer.  To me you are a pretty great guy because you obviously care very much about her or you wouldn't have taken the time to reach out to this site to ensure her well being and safety because you do care.  Pot slows absolutely everything down.....the heart definately will not beat the way its intended to and Smiley 2000 is correct in stating that it would cause an arrthythmia because it is not doing what its supposed to and if there are any underlying problems with her heart it could bring them to the forefront and that would not be so great.  Everyone on this site has one thing or another that is going on with their hearts or has and i am sure a pretty good majority of them have at one time or another tried smoking it and i bet if they weighed in they would tell you now they don't touch it.  One of the only diseases that i am aware of that its okay to smoke pot and condoned by physicians is when a person has Cancer and it is used for pain management as well as an appetite inducer.  Zack this girl means something to you...continue to protect her and as harmless as many people think it is statistics show that almost 80% of people who start with pot end up doing other drugs that are amazingly dangerous, illegal and cause destruction of they and their families lives.  You don't need the lecture at 18 but i live in Northern California where believe it or not it is legal w. a medicinal pot card that you can buy anywhere and they are doing studies in our area now because it is wreaking havoc on not only the users lives but the community as well.  Think it over...would you want to see your Mom and Dad sitting at the kitchen table when your mom is supposed to be cooking dinner and instead is too zoned out to cook, or when you maybe got into a little trouble and your Dad is too high to drive to come and get you?  Your choice Zack....i'd think twice about it tho.........................good luck and she's a lucky girl to have you...

[Zack196]

so if the reasson smoking pot is especially bad for someone with a heart murmur because it speeds up the heart, why isn't running bad?

[cindy707]

I know that is what Smiley2000 wrote and i am sure that she will weigh in Zack...i think possibly what she meant was that it causes the heart to work harder and a little more irregular not so much faster.  We all know that weed is a depressive not an amp.  And yes running is very good for your heart providing you have no underlying heart disease because it can provoke it.  So when runners have heart disease they have to be monitored by a heart doc.  Again think of your mind on weed and then transfer that feeling to the heart only Zack....it would not work the way it normally would right?  Your girlfriend already has a little something, something going on with her heart so why chance it causing it to do something that adds another little something something to the mix?  Good point you brought up tho obviously you pay attention.........LOL

[itdood]

Zach, your argument comparing chemically induced tachycardia to exercise induced tach makes no sense.    If the two were comparable, no one would exercise, they'd just snort meth and have a great heart.

I won't preach to you dood.  Do what you want.  Be prepared to pay the price for your poor choices later in life.  I sure did, and I learned everything the hard way.    Smoking anything may or may not cause you permanent harm.  You make the choice.