Is Cannabis Use Linked to Lung Disease and COVID-19?
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A new study with data from 500,000 participants sheds light on the effects of smoking cannabis on users’ lungs.
In a new study published this week, researchers used UK Biobank (UKB) data to assess the effect of cannabis on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection and determine whether cannabis-related lung damage is a COVID -19 infection in formerly regular users.
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon via Unsplash
The UKB study was a prospective, observational study that enrolled approximately 500,000 men and women from across England, Wales and Scotland between 2006 and 2010. Included in the study were all UKB subjects who had cannabis use data, COVID-19 testing data, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) data.
From 16 March to 26 April 2020, the electronic link between UKB records and COVID-19 laboratory test results was made available by the National Health Service in England.
The study results found that cannabis can cause lung disease and suppression of the immune system with increasing use, leading to pneumonia. In addition, the researchers said that heavy cannabis use can lead to airway obstruction and worse COVID-19 outcomes.
“Once a tobacco smoker stops smoking, their chances of developing cancer and other diseases decrease. Our results suggest that cannabis may be similar. 15 years after quitting smoking, the risk of coronary heart disease is close to that of a non-smoker. Unlike the heart, the lungs do not forget exposure to inhaled tobacco or cannabis many years later, but lung damage may not continue to increase after cessation,” the researchers said.
In 2012, a study found that occasional and low cumulative marijuana use was not associated with adverse effects on lung function. At the time, researchers concluded that cannabis use did not cause a loss in airflow rate and lung volume.
However, the latest study concluded that cannabis use could reduce pneumonia and inhibit viral replication in COVID-19 infections, leading to a better outcome.
This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been republished with permission.
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