‘Scromiting’ study finds brutal 48‑hour vomiting fits tied to heavy weed use
With the increased popularity of cannabis, some sound the alarm about unexpected side effects.
One study identified a phenomenon dubbed “scromiting,” a condition in which heavy cannabis use triggers bouts of extreme vomiting that can persist for up to 48 hours. As reported, Cannabis may be doing silent, long‑term damage to the heart and blood vessels, and a leading heart surgeon warns that the idea that weed is “safe” is dangerously misleading.
Dr Jeremy London, a cardiothoracic surgeon cited in recent coverage, argues that while many users focus on the lack of immediate symptoms, the real threat may be a gradual build‑up of cardiovascular risk that only becomes apparent years later.
What the heart surgeon is warning about
Dr London’s warning centers on the growing data that regular cannabis use is linked to higher rates of heart attack, stroke and deadly rhythm problems, even in younger adults who do not see themselves as “cardiac patients.” He stresses that calling cannabis “natural” or “safer than cigarettes” hides the fact that inhaled smoke, THC‑driven heart‑rate surges and blood‑vessel stress can all add up to significant long‑term harm.
“Let’s all agree on one thing, that lungs have one simple function and that’s to bring air into and out of your lungs,” Dr London explained on his popular TikTok page. “Anything else is potentially harmful.”
The “more dangerous” long‑term side effect
The more dangerous side effect he and other specialists fear is a slow, largely unnoticed increase in lifetime cardiovascular risk: higher odds of heart attack, stroke, and sudden cardiac death as the years go by. Large analyses now indicate cannabis users may face about double the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared with non‑users, suggesting that today’s casual smoking could translate into tomorrow’s fatal event. Some studies also attribute excessive weed use to memory loss.
Elevated risks of heart attack and stroke
Large population studies now show cannabis use is linked to higher odds of acute coronary syndromes and stroke, even after accounting for tobacco and other risk factors. Daily cannabis smoking has been associated with roughly 25% higher likelihood of heart attack and over 40% higher likelihood of stroke compared with non‑users, while even weekly use nudges risk upward. A pooled analysis published in the journal Heart reported about a 29% higher risk of acute coronary events, 20% higher risk of stroke, and roughly a doubling in the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease among cannabis users.
How weed can disrupt heart rhythm and blood flow
THC acts on the autonomic nervous system, provoking surges in adrenaline‑like activity that can trigger fast or irregular heartbeats. Reviews of cannabis‑associated arrhythmias describe increased rates of atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation and other serious rhythm disorders, sometimes in people with no previous cardiac diagnosis. Cannabis has also been linked to coronary vasospasm (sudden tightening of heart arteries), clot formation and inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis), all of which can abruptly cut blood flow and damage the heart.
Why heart surgeons are sounding the alarm
Cardiac specialists warn that cannabis smoke is “not all that different from tobacco smoke” in terms of vascular damage, except that the psychoactive drug is THC instead of nicotine. With stronger modern products and more frequent use, surgeons and cardiologists are calling for cannabis to be treated more like tobacco—legal but actively discouraged, especially in people with existing heart disease or risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol. Many advise that anyone who experiences chest pain, palpitations, fainting, or sudden shortness of breath after using weed should seek emergency care immediately, because these can be early signs of the very side effects now worrying heart teams worldwide.
