Pulmonary Effects Of Smoking Marijuana Dissertation

Pulmonary Effects Of Smoking Marijuana - Dissertation Example Research shows that many users of marijuana often inhale it as extremely hot fumes, usually to peak inspiration, and held as long as possible before being exhaled slowly. According to a study by Forrester et al (2012), this form of smoking has a greater impact on the pulmonary system because it predisposes the lung parenchyma to a greater damage than the smoking of standard tobacco cigarettes. Research concerning the impacts of smoking marijuana has been done in the past and confirmed that the risk of regular smoking of marijuana is similar to those of regular tobacco smoking (Onaivi, 2006). There are many studies on the effects of tobacco on the respiratory system as well as certain diseases have been profiled and linked to tobacco. However, few studies have focused on the effect of marijuana on the pulmonary function. Hii et al (2008) investigated the effects of smoking marijuana upon pulmonary emphysema using a series of 10 patients consisting of ages between 32 and 50, two female and eight male. The participants were those who were presented over a period of 12 months in a respiratory unit showing new respiratory symptoms and those who admitted being regular consumers of marijuana. The participants also exhibited the following symptoms on presentation including dyspnoea, pneumothorax and any kind of chest infection. In this study, high-resolution CT shows variable sized, asymmetrical emphysematous bullae in the mid and upper zones. However, CT revealed normal CXR in four patients and normal functioning of the lung was normal in five patients. This study shows that marijuana smoking predisposes individual smokers to asymmetrical bullous disease mostly in normal CXR setting and function of the lung. The study also revealed that these pathological changes take place at a younger age up to 2o years earlier compared to tobacco smokers (Hii et al, 2008).