Marijuana use caused Afib

[Asdfvv]

I am a 37 year old man from Los Angeles. Up until recently I was a very strong and healthy person. But I decided to begin using marijuana to help with insomnia I was having. That began a chain of events that ultimately affected my heart.

One night, I had a really bad reaction to marijuana edibles. I felt like I was going to die. I was rushed to the hospital. Doctors checked my vitals and told me I was fine. They said I was just experiencing anxiety. In my mind though, I believed that I had almost died.

I became depressed. Began having panic attacks. Eventually developed Afib. Now almost six months later, I am still suffering the consequences of my poor choices. I think I will need an ablation to stop the ectopic heart beats I feel regularly during the day and at night. I feel like I am disabled. Have missed many days of work from lack of sleep.

[Hidden]

Marijuana occasionally causes heart problems, including AF. My understanding is that if you stop using it, the ongoing risk disappears.

I'm not clear whether you still have paroxysmal AF or just ectopics. Either but particularly the latter can be made worse by anxiety. Ectopics are.not generally significant but can be uncomfortable.

Suggest you buy a "Kardia" device and show some recordings to your family physician, and discuss referral to a cardiac electrophysiologist. In the meantime research lifestyle changes to improve heart health, not least on this website.

Give up the weed permanently, take a serious look at your lifestyle, and with appropriate medical assessment and management, you will be fine.

[Asdfvv in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the reply. I have stopped using marijuana. I only take flecenaide for the palpitations. It helps a little, but also makes me feel weak sometimes

[Kharrell62]

Everyone makes poor choices but we have to accept the consequences. Anxiety is no joke and I’ve had to talk myself back to reality many times. It may not have been the edibles and was something underlying all the time. God has a way of making things ok if we just trust Him. Don’t blame yourself. Let yourself heal

[afafaf]

I think marijuana causes AF a lot more than people realise. When I first started having symptoms, and even more so when I was diagnosed, I realised how similar AF felt to how I sometimes felt when I'd smoked marijuana. I certainly won't be smoking it again, that's for sure.

[akenclark]

Thanks for the heads up. I have never smoked a joint nor had a hash brownie. But I recently began taking hemp oil for the CBD to help my arthritis with its alleged anti-inflamatory properties safer than long term use of NSAIDS. (The THC is refined out of this OTC product I take with an eyedropper in sublingual format so there is no psycho high) I shall be on the watch for the symptoms you describe. (So far it seems like a hyped do-nothing product)

[Hidden]

Hi Asdfvv. Anyone who has never made a poor choice doesn't live on THIS planet. Be kind to yourself. I hope as time passes and you and your a-fib 'settle in together' you will no longer feel disabled but will realize that you can live a comfortable, long, productive life with AF.. Read some of the posts and I believe you will be encouraged. Take care. irina1975

[Asdfvv]

Thank you Irina for your kind thoughts