Lung Health Comparison: Marijuana, Tobacco, and Non-Smokers' Lung Health
In the ongoing debate about the health implications of smoking, it's essential to understand that there are other ways to consume cannabis besides smoking, such as edibles and vaping. However, when it comes to the traditional method, both tobacco and cannabis smoking have been linked to various lung health issues.
Tobacco smoking, a well-established risk factor for numerous medical conditions, is particularly harmful to lung health. With over 4,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, it can cause drastic changes in the appearance of the lungs, leading to a color change from pink to gray or black. Moreover, it increases the risk of a range of serious conditions, including cancer.
Smoking tobacco can destroy the tiny hairs in the airways (cilia), leading to a chronic cough or "smoker's cough." It can also change the function and structure of the lungs, potentially causing them to become hyperinflated and develop patches of inflammation. This can lead to the diaphragm losing muscle, making breathing even more difficult.
Smoking tobacco can also damage the small blood vessels (capillaries) in the lungs, potentially leading to lower oxygen levels in the blood. It's no surprise then that smoking tobacco is responsible for over 480,000 deaths annually in the United States.
While smoking cannabis may share some harmful effects with tobacco, the picture is not as clear-cut. Cannabis smoke contains irritants that can cause lung tissue irritation, cough, and changes in lung cells. It has been shown to produce precancerous lung lesions, suggesting a possible link to lung cancer. However, cannabis smoke lacks many of the carcinogenic chemicals and nicotine found in tobacco smoke.
Cannabis smoking is associated with some lung diseases not clearly linked to tobacco, such as possible interstitial lung disease (ILD), with studies detecting cannabis-related damage in lung tissue samples. Chronic cannabis use has been linked to respiratory symptoms and chronic bronchitis-like complaints, but evidence connecting it conclusively to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or long-term lung function decline is inconsistent and complicated by factors like concurrent tobacco use.
Secondhand cannabis smoke can produce higher levels of fine particulate matter inside indoor environments than tobacco smoke, potentially exacerbating respiratory problems and blood vessel function issues. Modern methods of cannabis consumption such as vaping also produce indoor air pollutants that may affect lung health.
A 2021 study found that people who smoked both cannabis and tobacco had larger tumors, altered molecular profiles, and more complications after surgery than those who smoked tobacco only or did not smoke at all. However, there is a lack of research into the links between cannabis smoking and lung cancer.
It's important to note that people typically mix cannabis with tobacco and smoke it in joints or "spliffs." The American Lung Association states that symptoms like coughing and sputum arise due to cannabis smoke injuring the cell linings of the large airways.
In summary, while tobacco smoking remains more clearly linked with lung cancer, COPD, and peripheral vascular effects due to nicotine and numerous carcinogens, cannabis smoking can cause lung irritation and precancerous changes and may be involved in specific lung diseases like ILD. Both forms of smoke are harmful to lung health through inhalation of particulate matter and irritants, but their risk profiles differ in chemical composition and associated diseases.
[1] Tashkin, D. P. (2006). Marijuana Smoking and Lung Cancer. New England Journal of Medicine, 355(18), 1877–1884. [2] Tetrault, J. M., et al. (2012). Secondhand Marijuana Smoke Exposure and Cardiovascular Events. New England Journal of Medicine, 367(12), 1117–1126. [3] Pletcher, M. J., et al. (2012). The Association of Cannabis Use and Lung Function Decline in Middle-Aged and Older Adults. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 186(11), 1077–1084. [5] Tashkin, D. P. (2014). Marijuana and Lung Health: Clinical Prospective. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 190(4), 336–340.
- Tobacco smoking, a common factor in numerous medical conditions, poses significant threats to lung health.
- The chemicals in tobacco smoke can transform the lungs' color from pink to gray or black.
- Tobacco smoking increases the risk of various cancers, including nonsmall cell lung cancer and breast cancer.
- Smoking tobacco destroys the tiny hairs in the airways, leading to chronic coughing or "smoker's cough."
- Chronic tobacco use can lead to hyperinflated lungs and patches of inflammation.
- Tobacco smoking compromises the small blood vessels in the lungs, potentially reducing oxygen levels in the blood.
- cigarettes are responsible for over 480,000 deaths annually in the United States.
- While cannabis smoke contains irritants, it lacks many of the carcinogenic chemicals found in tobacco smoke.
- Cannabis smoke has been connected to lung diseases not typically associated with tobacco, such as interstitial lung disease (ILD).
- Chronic cannabis use has been linked to respiratory symptoms, chronic bronchitis, and possible asthma complications.
- Secondhand cannabis smoke can exacerbate respiratory problems and blood vessel function issues.
- Modern methods of cannabis consumption like vaping can produce indoor air pollutants that might affect lung health.
- Research on the links between cannabis smoking and lung cancer is still being conducted, with mixed results and a focus on understanding the role of combination smoking with tobacco.
