DR. DERRICK M. DESILVA, JR., MD

---

Cannabis and the Heart: Beware

Dr. Derrick M. DeSilva, Jr., MD, Associate Attending Staff Dept. of Medicine, Raritan Bay Medical Center (RBMC) and  Teaching Faculty, JFK Medical Center

CB1 receptors are located in the myocardium, aorta smooth muscle, and vascular endothelium, it is not surprising that acute effects of marijuana consumption include increases in blood pressure and heart rate. Although these short-term physiological effects are well-described, the impact of marijuana on high-risk cardiovascular outcomes such coronary atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction (MI) is less understood. Current evidence suggests an association of marijuana use with these major cardiovascular events, including stroke, arrhythmias, and vasculopathies. Postulated mechanisms of THC-induced cardiovascular events are sympathetic nervous system activation, myocardial oxygen demand, increased catecholamine and beta-adrenergic stimulation, direct vasculotoxic effects, platelet activation, and peripheral vasoconstriction.  During this presentation the data on these myocardial and vascular events will be presented.

• Associate Attending Staff, Dept. of Medicine, Raritan Bay Medical Center(RBMC), Perth Amboy, NJ 

• Teaching Faculty JFK Medical Center, Edison, NJ 

• Past-Chairman of Planning Com. Age Management Medicine Group (AMMG) 

• Past President of American Nutraceutical Association 

• Recipient of the Alan Mintz Award for Excellence in Clinical Age Management Medicine  

• Best Doctor Award by Castle Connolly for the past 19 consecutive years 

• Host of “Ask the Doctor” on WCTC Radio, NJ 

• Medical correspondent for Cablevision (News 12 NJ) and Host of “Health Matters”