Marijuana may be Even More Dangerous to Your Health Than Cigarette Smoke

Emphysema is a chronic respiratory disease where there is over-inflation of the air sacs (alveolar) in the lungs, causing a decrease in lung function, and often, breathlessness.

Presently, heavy cigarette smoking causes about 80-90% of all emphysema cases. Cigar and/or pipe smoking can also damage the lungs but a person may be less likely to inhale cigar and pipe smoke. Marijuana smoke may well be the most damaging of all, because it is inhaled deeply, and held in by the smoker.

A few cases are the result of an inherited deficiency of a substance called alpha-1-anti trypsin (AAT). The number of North Americans with this deficiency is relatively small, probably no greater than 70,000.

Emphysema is the most common cause of death from respiratory disease in North America, and is the fourth most common cause of death overall. It is now well documented that cigarette smoking can, and does, cause lung cancer. So does the smoking of Marijuana.