lMarijuana lMan

Hey everyone, I haven't been around lately because school has been getting the best of me, although I never miss a session or three each day.

Anyways, every so often I'll get a sharp pain directly in my sternum, right in the center of my ribcage, pretty much parallel to my heart.

I know there aren't any reported cases of death from marijuana, etc.. though I'm just wondering how conscious I should be about my health, seeing how I smoke everyday (usually more than once). 9/10 times I use a bong with new cold, clean water everytime.

Does anybody know why it hurts so much, and what's causing it?
Is it something I should be worried about..

Please provide some input if you're able, I really appreciate it.

Buzzby

Why are you asking a bunch of potheads? You should be asking your doctor!

Have you had an EKG recently? Marijuana and heart disease might not be a good combination, as cannabis puts a strain on your heart comparable to fast walking. Some research has shown that you are four times as likely to have a heart attack within an hour of smoking than you would be if you hadn't smoked.

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KingDub

True heart attacks are rarely described as causing "sharp" chest pain. They are usually described as a dull, strong ache associated with other symptoms such as profuse sweating and shortness of breath. Accordingly, these are often signs of general anxiety or a panic attack because people are subconsciously worried about their heart. (For no good reason, most of the time.)

In all likelihood, you are suffering either from anxiety or chest wall pain. Chest wall pain is actually fairly common in young people. I also suffered from chest discomfort/pain/aching for a few years, off and on. After a few visits to the doctor and some heart tests (EKG and ECG), everything was found to be fine. The pains were being caused by anxiety. I was a regular marijuana smoker at the time.

Also, Buzzby--the latest research suggests that those reports you are referring to are, surprise, surprise, bullshit. Marijuana is no more likely to cause heart attacks on its own than the brisk walking you described. My personal feeling is that people who are already at risk should not use marijuana for obvious reasons--it can increase blood pressure and pulse if you become anxious, and neither of those things are good for you if you have heart disease. However, being high itself only increases your heart beat by about 20 bpm, so unless you have severe heart troubles there is probably nothing to worry about.

KingDub

By the way, I highly recommend a trip to the doctor, Marijuana Man. You can never be too sure, and if everything is fine, which I think it will be, you'll gain peace of mind.

t-1000

is it such that when you either inhale or exhale too deeply you experience a sharp pain which forces you to continue breathing in small breaths? If you force yourself to continue inhaling or exhaling you experience a sort of "pop" and the pain immediately goes away, otherwise it will go away within a minute or two?

If so it's PCS or Precordial Catch Syndrome. I have experienced this phenomenon for many years. Often times after sleeping on my chest, smoking, or some other movement involving rib cage compression/expansion. It used to sort of worry me, but I ignored it because I never had serious problems and it always went away. At some point I just had to figure out what was going on, as I thought it might be an indicator of heart or chest problems. After a quick search it was obviously PCS. I'm 20 years old and still experience it every now and again.

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lMarijuana lMan

Wow, t-1000 you pretty much just hit the nail on the head there.
This is exactly what happens, and I noticed that If I arch my back and push my chest far outwards I can sometimes hear a slight popping sound, or as if air is slowly being released.

It makes me breathe in short breaths as you described which reassures me that this isn't a major condition, which is great as I love to smoke the ganja.

I'll probably see a doctor when I go home from school this weekend, thanks everybody for your support - it's made me feel much better.

Kind regards,

MM