CU Anschutz In The News

It could be the smoke that’s being inhaled that places strain on the heart, or it could be THC, the chemical in pot that gets you high, said Larry Allen, a professor of cardiology at the CU School of Medicine. THC has been shown to increase heart rate and blood pressure, cause blood to clot more easily, and affect the inner lining of blood vessels, he said. “We have some basic laboratory data that suggests there may be adverse health effects of THC,” Allen said.

"We found no difference in the two populations," said senior researcher Dr. Christine Tompkins, a cardiologist with the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Further, marijuana users appeared to have lower rates of atrial fibrillation, an irregular rhythm in the upper chambers of the heart (the atria).

"The most impressive finding that has relevance for all patients undergoing IVF is that performing the transfer with one embryo greatly increases the chance of a healthy baby, the desired objective in IVF," said senior author Dr. Alex Polotsky, an expert in advanced reproductive medicine at the University of Colorado.