Marijuanas Life Threatening Effects on Blood - Essay Example

Marijuana’s life threatening effects on blood Introduction According to Goodman and Gilman (1990), in the United s, marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug of abuse (Soares & Gershon, 2003, p.603). The drug affects the functioning of different organs of the body like liver, brain, reproductive organs, lungsetc., as it is absorbed by the blood and travels through the bloodstream to different parts of the human body (( Jones, H.B. & Jones,H.C., 1977, P.33). Hence, by affecting the functions of different components of blood, marijuana threatens the protection of the body from different life threatening diseases like heart attack and cancer. People who smoke marijuana increase the risk of suffering from heart and brain related diseases manifold. Marijuana’s effects on blood Blood is a fluid that maintains the health of the body by circulating through heart, arteries, veins and capillaries (“Overview of Blood”, n.d.). For a human body to function in a healthy way, it is extremely important for the blood to carry the oxygen and nourishment to different parts of the body (“Overview of Blood”, n.d.). However, the habit of smoking hampers the functions of the blood. The intake of marijuana reduces the capacity of the blood to carry the oxygen (Herreid, 2007, p.185). The presence of marijuana affects the blood pressure and the heart rate also (Herreid, 2007, p.185). According to a research by National Institute of Drug Abuse, people who smoke marijuana are at greater risk of having a heart attack because in the first hour after smoking marijuana, the chances of heart attack increases by four times (Herreid, 2007, p.185). The antibody, which are produced and released by leukocytes (white blood cells) and their progenitors, work as the protective agents against the infectious agents like bacteria, viruses and fungi (Friedman, Shivers and Klein, 1994, p. 307). According to the study, the capacity of forming antibody by leukocytes is suppressed with the injection of THC, which is found in marijuana (Friedman, Shivers and Klein, 1994, p. 307). Marijuana damages the cells in the blood and this suppresses the defensive response of the immune system. Certain cells in the immune system carries the genes which identifies the presence of the foreign proteins and fights the foreign proteins by generating immune bodies ( Jones, H.B. & Jones,H.C., 1977, P.237). The study conducted by Nahas et al. (1974) found that in the bodies of the people who use marijuana, the immune response of the lymphocytes is diminished as its ability to divide is suppressed by marijuana ( Jones, H.B. & Jones,H.C., 1977, P.237). In this way, marijuana affects those functions of the blood which help in protecting the body from foreign particles which causes disease. Nahas et al. (1974) studied the immune system of fifty one people who smoked marijuana for an average of four years ( Jones, H.B. & Jones,H.C., 1977, P.237). The characteristics of white blood cells of people who smoked marijuana were compared to the white blood cells of eighty one people who did not smoke marijuana ( Jones, H.B. & Jones,H.C., 1977, P.237). The ability of these cells to perform a function of blast transformation, which is associated with protein synthesis aimed at producing immune bodies, was compared between both groups ( Jones, H.B. & Jones,H.C., 1977, P.237).It was found that the cells of the people who smoked marijuana performed the transformation less effectively ( Jones, H.B. & Jones,H.C., 1977, P.237). The lack of ability of the white blood cells to perform transformation is also found in people who are suffering from cancer and uremic poisoning ( Jones, H.B. & Jones,H.C., 1977, P.237). This shows that smoking of marijuana is extremely dangerous as it affects the functions of the blood cells. THC (the main psychoactive substance in marijuana) affects the blood flow and the metabolism of the body (Soares & Gershon, 2003, p.603). . The use of marijuana affect the rate of blood flow in the body. In the study by Matthew et al (1997), it was found that when people who were not regular marijuana smokers smoked marijuana, there was a decrease in their blood flow (Soares & Gershon, 2003, p.603). When people who were regular in marijuana smoking smoked marijuana, their blood flow increased (Soares & Gershon, 2003, p.603). According to Mathew et al (1999), people addicted to marijuana experienced a temporary reduction in cerebral blood flow which came to normal when they stopped using marijuana (Soares & Gershon, 2003, p.603). However, other studies, like the study conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse in Baltimore, have found that the effect of marijuana is long term and can cause potential damage to the functioning of heart and brain of the people who use it (“Marijuana affects”, 2005, para.1). The study found that the rate of the blood flow increased in the body of people who smoked marijuana and remained the same even after one month of abstaining from the drug (“Marijuana affects”, 2005, para.7). According to researcher Ronald Herning, the study shows that the abnormalities in the small blood vessels in the brain are caused by using marijuana (“Marijuana affects”, 2005, para.11). Marijuana affects the flow of blood to the brain and causes a disturbance in the provision of appropriate amount of oxygen to the brain (“Marijuana affects”, 2005, para.14). The lack of sufficient amount of oxygen results as the use of marijuana narrows the blood vessels in the brain (“Marijuana affects”, 2005, 16). Also, as the blood vessels are narrow, there is a great resistance to the blood flow (Davis, 2005, para.3). According to Jean Cadet at the National Institute on Drug Abuse in Baltimore, in an attempt to compensate the lack of oxygen, more blood is sent to the brain but at the same time, the narrow blood vessels resist the blood flow (Davis, 2005, para.3). Not only that, but according to Cadet, use of marijuana can also harm the functions of brain like memory and decision making due to the lack of sufficient supply of oxygen to the brain. Conclusion Studies mentioned above show that with the presence of marijuana, the ability of the blood to fight the foreign agents in the body that are injurious to health is decreased. The THC present in marijuana hampers the immune system functions and this makes people who smoke marijuana prone to diseases like cancer and heart attack (“What are the acute”, n.d., para 13). Marijuana is dangerous not only to the physical health of a people who smoke, but also to their mental health. By causing psychological problems like hallucination, depression, euphoria, memory loss etc., marijuana damages the ability of people to function in healthy way. Hence, it becomes extremely important for people to understand the harmful effects of marijuana and remain away from it, even if it might seem attractive. References: Davis, K. (2005). Marijuana makes blood rush to the head. Retrieved February 19, 2010 from http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn6975-marijuana-makes-blood-rush-to-the-head.html Friedman, H., Shivers, S.C. and Klein, T.W. (1994). Drugs of Abuse and the Immune System. In J. Dean, M. Luster, A. Munson & I. Kimber, Immunotoxicology and Immunopharmoclogy (303-322). New York: Raven Press. Herreid, C.F. (2007). Start with a Story: The Case study method of teaching College students. USA: NSTA Press. Jones, H.B. & Jones, H.C. (1977). Sensual Drugs: Deprivation and rehabilitation of the mind. London: Cambridge University Press. “Marijuana affects blood vessels”. (2005). Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4244489.stm “Overview of Blood and Blood Componenets”. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/hematology/bloodoview.html Soares, J.C. & Gershon, S. (2003). Handbook of medical psychiatry. New York: Marcel Dekker. “What are the acute effects of marijuana use?” (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/marijuana/marijuana3.html Read More