While most smokers think cigarettes harm their health, marijuana users are more optimistic about their advantages. Less obvious are the effects of marijuana on the human body. The medication has fewer damaging effects on the brain and immune system, is less harmful to the lungs, and is less toxic.
Less Damaging to the Lungs
A recent study of the lung consequences of vaping discovered that it is less dangerous than smoking. This conclusion reflects the experience of millions of vape users and is consistent with the most recent British Lung Foundation recommendations. Vaping aerosol reduces the pollutants ingested because it has fewer compounds than cigarette smoke.
The body’s vital organs, the lungs, carry out numerous essential tasks. They enable individuals to breathe comfortably and carry out regular activities with little effort when in good health. However, if damaged, they can result in serious illness and even death. For example, smoking tobacco harms lung tissue, hindering lung capacity to operate normally. Lung conditions such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and emphysema are more prevalent in smokers.
Cigarettes and marijuana both have compounds that harm the lungs. However, marijuana users are often lighter smokers and may suffer from less lung damage. Even though smoking marijuana is still a bad habit, it is less damaging to the lungs than cigarette smoking. Research involving more than 5,000 Americans suggests low to moderate marijuana usage may not harm the lungs.
Safer for the Brain
Smoking has adverse effects on the brain as well as the body. Nicotine can alter the brain, making you feel anxious, irritable, and craving nicotine. Many smokers would go for another cigarette only to alleviate the withdrawal symptoms because quitting smoking causes excruciating pain. Nicotine dependence is a vicious cycle that is challenging to break.
Toxic substances are introduced into the body and brain when you smoke. Some of these substances alter genetic material and cause cancer. As a result, smokers are more prone to experience strokes than nonsmokers. With each additional cigarette smoked, a smoker’s risk of stroke rises by two to four times. However, the risk for stroke decreases to the same level as for nonsmokers within five years.
Nicotine is a substance that imitates brain neurotransmitters. It raises oxygen consumption and heart rate. Endorphins are also produced as a consequence, which aid in relieving stress and improving mood.
These results, however, are just temporary. Because smoking is addictive, quitting causes withdrawal symptoms. A deterioration in cognitive function and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease are associated with long-term nicotine use.
Less Harmful to the Immune System
As one of the leading contributors to avoidable mortality and morbidity, tobacco also lowers the immune system, according to a study. Additionally, it raises the possibility of lung infection. Smokers are more likely to contract several illnesses, including AIDS. Smoking also weakens the body’s defenses against disease and may make someone more susceptible to cancer.
Studies have indicated that vaping may harm the immune system, despite being seen as a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes. For example, E-cigarette usage was found to alter one study’s respiratory and immune systems and hinder bacterial clearance. Reduced expression of critical immune genes in the respiratory epithelium may cause this.
The researchers compared the genes present in smokers’ and e-cigarette users’ nasal biopsies with those of nonsmokers. They discovered that e-cigarettes and all forms of tobacco inhibit immune-related genes. In addition, seven transcription factors that are common to both cigarette and e-cigarette users were also downregulated by e-cigarette usage. EGR1, whose expression was reduced nearly 10-fold in e-cigarette users, was one of the genes whose expression changed significantly.
