Wednesday, February 16, 2011

How Does Marijuana Affect Immune System?

Marijuana abuse is associated with many serious health effects. Consumption of high dose of marijuana affects function of heart, brain, lungs, and liver. In addition, it also affects immune system of the user making it prone to many other infections.

Marijuana smoke is inhaled into lungs through bronchial passages. These passages are lined by certain immune cells which help in eliminating entry of pathogenic substances into lungs. Toxins present in the smoke damage these cells. As a result, the ability of these cells to fight against fungi, bacteria and other microbes decreases. This leads to increased risk of many pulmonary infections like pneumonia.

All the immune cells such as macrophages and T-cells are destroyed by marijuana usage. Patients having weak immune system are further affected by marijuana. Marijuana smoking by HIV patients accelerates it into AIDS. There is an increased risk of cancer in lungs, throat, pharynx and larynx.

Cannabinoids present in marijuana are involved in arresting the development of monocytes which are a group of white blood cells responsible for immunity. Their defense function is impaired due to failure of their maturity. This problem of failure in growing up and functionhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifing normally is termed as maturation arrest. Thus the body of a regular marijuana user is most susceptible to various types of infections.

It is therefore necessary to conduct regular marijuana test to avoid serious consequences. Marijuana drug testing can be done in many ways including urine drug test, oral drug test or saliva drug test, blood drug test and hair drug test. Except blood test, others can be even conducted at home.


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