A minute of secondhand marijuana smoke
may damage blood vessels: Study in rats
By
Dr.Fourkan Ali
:
American Heart
Association
Summary:
Rats' blood vessels
took at least three times longer to recover function after only a minute of
breathing secondhand marijuana smoke, compared to recovery after a minute of
breathing secondhand tobacco smoke. With many states legalizing medical and
recreational marijuana, and possible corporate expansion within the cannabis
industry, this type of research is important to help understand the health
consequences of exposure to secondhand marijuana smoke,
Rats' blood vessels
took at least three times longer to recover function after only a minute of
breathing secondhand marijuana smoke, compared to recovery after a minute of
breathing secondhand tobacco smoke, according to new research in Journal of
the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart
Association/American Stroke Association.
When rats inhaled
secondhand marijuana smoke for one minute, their arteries carried blood less
efficiently for at least 90 minutes, whereas similar exposure to secondhand
tobacco smoke caused blood vessel impairment that recovered within 30 minutes.
"While the effect
is temporary for both cigarette and marijuana smoke, these temporary problems
can turn into long-term problems if exposures occur often enough and may
increase the chances of developing hardened and clogged arteries," said
Matthew Springer, Ph.D., study senior author and professor of medicine at the
University of California, San Francisco's Division of Cardiology.
Blood vessel function
was examined in rats before and after exposure to secondhand marijuana smoke at
levels similar to real-world secondhand tobacco smoke.
"Arteries of rats
and humans are similar in how they respond to secondhand tobacco smoke, so the
response of rat arteries to secondhand marijuana smoke is likely to reflect how
human arteries might respond," Springer said.
Researchers also found
the mere burning of the plant material appears responsible for the impaired
blood vessels, not chemicals like nicotine and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the
psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, nor rolling paper.
"There is
widespread belief that, unlike tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke is benign,"
Springer said. "We in public health have been telling the public to avoid
secondhand tobacco smoke for years, but we don't tell them to avoid secondhand
marijuana smoke, because until now we haven't had evidence that it can be
harmful."
Springer also noted
that the increasing number of states legalizing medicinal and recreational
marijuana, along with increasing potential for corporate expansion within the
cannabis industry, makes it important to understand the health consequences of
secondhand marijuana smoke exposure.
The inhalation of
smoke should be avoided, regardless of whether it comes from tobacco,
marijuana, or other sources. Inhaling smoke is bad for you -- period,
researchers said.
Story
Source:
The above post is
reprinted from materials provided by American
Heart Association. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.
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