Expanded Summary (6th Grade Level):

Kratom is a plant from Southeast Asia that some people use to help with pain, depression, and anxiety. This paper looked at the research on how kratom can affect the heart and blood vessels. The researchers found that kratom can sometimes cause fast heartbeat and high blood pressure. Some studies in lab dishes showed that kratom can also cause problems with the heart’s electrical signals, which could lead to dangerous heart rhythms. However, studies with people who use kratom regularly did not always see these problems. The researchers think that the risk of heart problems from kratom may be higher when it is used with other drugs or when a person has other health issues. More research is still needed to know for sure how safe kratom is for the heart.

This study was a review of research from different sources, including lab studies, reports from poison centers, and case reports of people who used kratom. The researchers looked at studies on both animals and humans to try to understand the potential risks of using kratom.

Key takeaways:

• Kratom use can cause fast heartbeat and high blood pressure
• Kratom may affect the heart’s electrical signals, which could lead to dangerous heart rhythms
• The risk of heart problems from kratom may be higher when it is used with other drugs or when a person has other health issues
• More research is still needed to fully understand the effects of kratom on the heart

For further reading:

Link: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.726003/full

Full Citation:

Leong Bin Abdullah, M. F. I., & Singh, D. (2021). The Adverse Cardiovascular Effects and Cardiotoxicity of Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.): A Comprehensive Review. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12, 726003.