Herbal supplements like hemp oil that contain CBD (cannabidiol) are celebrated for their benefits. Researchers have found that CBD can help with stress relief and several other ailments. But doctors who recently treated a woman, 56, for heart problems after taking CBD for four months warned, “the potential negative side effects are often not foreseeable”.
The researchers, who wrote about their patient in the journal HeartRhythm Case Reports, explained that the “exact composition” of the supplements often varies widely.
They also suggested there is still a lot to be learned about the properties of these supplements.
The woman they treated went to the hospital after passing out but had suffered from dizziness for a month before admission. It turned out the dizziness was down to a change in her heart rhythm.
She had developed a potentially life-threatening heart rhythm change known as Torsades de pointes.
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Dizziness, palpitations, fainting, and being short of breath are all common symptoms of changes in your heart’s rhythm, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The woman had been taking two types of hemp oil three to four times daily for four months. One of the products contained 61 mg per supplement while the other contained 24mg.
Torsades de pointes often sorts itself out, but can often lead to an irregular heartbeat known as ventricular fibrillation and even death.
The Cleveland Clinic explains: “Torsades de Pointes is a type of very fast heart rhythm (tachycardia) that starts in your heart’s lower chambers (ventricles).
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They explained that the woman’s heartbeat gradually returned to normal after five days of stopping the supplements.
She was discharged six days later and months later she had no new symptoms.
They wrote: “At three months’ follow-up, she reported no new episodes of dizziness or syncope, with an electrocardiogram (ECG) still showing a QT interval within normal range.”
What should you do if you spot signs of an abnormal heart rhythm?
The NHS states: “If your symptoms persist or there’s a history of unexplained sudden death in your family, it’s important for your GP to refer you to a heart specialist (a cardiologist or electrophysiologist who specialises in heart rhythm disorders).
“The most effective way to diagnose an arrhythmia is with an electrical recording of your heart rhythm called an electrocardiogram (ECG).
“If the ECG doesn’t find a problem, you may need further monitoring of your heart.”
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