Being in the same room as someone who is smoking marijuana is just as damaging to your heart and blood vessels as tobacco smoke . This is the conclusion of the latest study developed by the cardiology division of the University of California in San Francisco (USA).
In their study, the researchers conducted an experiment with laboratory rats that were exposed to marijuana smoke as passive smokers. Thanks to a high-resolution ultrasound machine, they were able to measure the activity of the main artery in the leg. After 30 minutes, they found that the function of the rats' blood vessels was reduced by 70%. Decreased blood vessel function can increase the chances of developing atherosclerosis and ultimately a heart attack.
“Most people know that secondhand cigarette smoke is bad, but many don't realize that secondhand marijuana smoke can also be harmful. There is no reason to think that marijuana smoke is better than tobacco smoke. Avoid both, ”says Matthew Springer, study leader.
By performing the same tests 40 minutes after exposure to marijuana smoke and in clean air, the scientists found that blood vessel function had not returned to normal .
