The health effects of cannabis marijuana - Essay Example

Health Hazards of Marijuana Consumption Anwar Alshalan American of Sharjah Health Hazards of Marijuana Consumption The effects of consuming marijuana are not limited to psychiatric but also include physical harms. Although cannabis does not kill immediately, its long-term consumption is known to cause a series of severe health complications. The most hurtful effects of marijuana are exerted on the heart, pulmonary system, and mental healthMarijuana damages respiratory apparatus and causes breathing problems.

Over decades of research, it has been determined that the consumption of marijuana results in variable forms of lung diseases. This is primarily because of the fact that inhaled particles lead to unparalleled damage to bronchial cells. This damage is similar in severity to the damage of those who suffer from lung cancer (Zimmer & Morgan, 2007, p. 20). The mildest respiratory effects of the consumption of marijuana include bronchitis, exacerbated phlegm production as well as emphysema. A study revealed that 36% of patients admitted to the hospital in the United States with flue-like symptoms were suffering from the side effects of consuming marijuana (Tashkin et al., 2004, p. 2).

Moreover, in severe cases, heavy marijuana users may develop lethal complications. Hence, a massive Swedish study in 2013 has identified that 40 years of marijuana consumption double the risk of having lung cancer (Callaghan et al., 2013, pp. 1811-1820). Moreover, has a disastrous effect on cardiovascular system. Therefore, marijuana accelerates heartbeat and may provoke inflammatory processes in blood vessels. Moreover, a group of researchers from Birmingham, UK, has concluded that marijuana is likely to increase the risk of arrhythmias as well as causes dizziness and provokes falls (Krishnamoorthy et al.

, 2009, pp. 851-856). Furthermore, due to ethical concerns, the studies aimed to investigate the relationship between the consumption of marijuana and reproduction. The studies conducted on primates revealed that with the chronic consumption of marijuana sperm count decreased by a margin of 61% in males. Fertility in females decreased by up to 53%. Moreover, even with the surviving sperm cells their motility and ability to fertilize egg cells was significantly degraded (Zimmerman & Raj, 2007, p. 10). Apparently, marijuana can be blamed for causing numerous severe health conditions including pulmonary problems, cardiovascular diseases and reproduction problems.

ReferencesCallaghan, R., Allebeck, P., &Sidorchuk, A. (2013). Marijuana use and risk of lung cancer: A 40-year cohort study. Cancer Causes & Control, 24(10), 1811-1820.Krishnamoorthy, S., Lip, G., & Lane, D. (2009). Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use as Precipitants of Atrial Fibrillation in Young Adults: A Case Series and Literature Review. The American Journal of Medicine, 122(9), 851-856.Tashkin, D. (2004). Is Frequent Marijuana Smoking Harmful to Health. Western Journal of Medicine, 158(6), 635-637.

Zimmerman, S. & Raj, A. Y. (2007). Effects of cannabinoids on spremtogenesis in mice. In G. G. Nahas and W. D. M. Paton (Eds.), Marijuana: Biological effects, analysis, metabolism, cellular responses, reproduction and brain (pp. 407-418). New York: Pergamon