How Smoking Weed Affects Aging
Smoking weed, also known as cannabis or marijuana, is often viewed as far less risky than smoking cigarettes. But does smoking weed actually age you in similar ways as tobacco smoking? Read on for a deep dive into exactly how cannabis use impacts the aging process both externally and internally.
The Appearance of Premature Aging
Many dedicated smokers of weed begin to take on the external signs of accelerated aging in visible ways:
- Fine lines, wrinkles and age spots
- Saggy or uneven skin texture
- Dull, uneven complexion
- Red, bloodshot eyes
- Thinning hair or balding
- Tooth decay and loss of teeth
The reason heavy pot use can equate to looking older than your years comes down to the oxidative stress, toxicity and inflammation induced while actually smoking flower or by ingesting large amounts of THC regularly.
How Smoking Pot Literally Oxidizes Skin Cells
The combustion from smoking weed ignites a rush of free radicals. These volatile oxidative molecules wreak havoc on lipids, proteins and DNA at the cellular level. As this oxidative damage accumulates over time – so too do the visible effects.
Collagen supports skin structure and elasticity. But free radicals break down collagen along with elastin and hyaluronic acid that preserve moisture. The greater the oxidative damage, the more skin structure deteriorates leading to discoloration, dryness, sagging and wrinkling.
Toxic Effects Disrupt Skin Function
The toxins inhaled while smoking weed pass from your lungs directly into the bloodstream. This floods the body with not just THC, but tar, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide and aromatic compounds similar to tobacco smoke.
These toxins lay waste to vital organs like the heart, liver and kidneys which support healthy skin function. Disruptions of these body systems contribute to acne, eczema, rashes, skin thinning, poor wound healing as well as that dull, imbalanced complexion.
Cannabis, Inflammation and Skin Aging
THC, the primary active ingredient in marijuana that generates the “high”, also triggers systemic inflammation throughout the body. While low inflammation can be beneficial, chronic or excessive inflammation ages skin profoundly by enabling a destructive protein called MMP to run rampant.
MMP breaks down collagen reserves even further leading to inflammation-induced aging. Facial wrinkles, skin damage and lesions signal overloaded immune-inflammation response.
Internal Organ Aging Accelerated by Cannabis
Beneath the surface changes to skin and appearance, long-term smoking of weed also expedites internal aging of organs and body systems linked to disease down the road:
Heart Health Decline
The risk of cardiovascular disease from tobacco use is well established, and evidence now shows marijuana has a similar impact despite misconceptions of safety. Heart health markers affected by smoking weed include:
- Increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and coronary artery disease
- Arterial stiffening, thicker arterial walls
- Alterations to cholesterol ratios
- Higher blood pressure
Each additional joint smoked per day may raise heart attack risk by as much as five times compared to non-users. These compounding factors accelerate biological aging of the cardiovascular system.
Lung Function and COPD Concerns
Regular weed smoking impairs respiratory health in like fashion to traditional cigarettes by harming lung tissue fragile alveolar sacs, airways and protective immune cells within the lungs. Frequent smokers exhibit:
- Chronic bronchitis symptoms - cough, phlegm, wheezing
- Decreased oxygen diffusion capacity
- Obstructive lung defects
- Increased risk of lung infections
This predisposes pot smokers to COPD with symptoms of chronic cough, mucus production and shortness of breath. Early onset COPD and lung limitations equate to markedly faster deterioration over time.
Reproductive Health and Fertility Compromised
Another aspect of health where weed mirrors tobacco is the harmful effects to fertility and reproductive wellness for both men and women. Habitual ganja use alters critical markers including:
- Reduced sperm quality and mobility
- Menstrual cycle irregularities
- Changes to ovaries, ovulation, embryo health
- Lower testosterone levels
These reproductive effects make conceiving more difficult for couples where one or both partners use weed frequently. It also accelerates reproductive aging later in life.
Mental Health and Cognitive Decline
The impact of cannabis dependency on brain health and mental wellbeing also speeds downward spiral of aging. Long-standing weed abuse contributes to:
- Impaired learning, memory, decision making skills
- Increased risk of anxiety, depression over time
- Psychosis, delusions more likely in vulnerable individuals
- Addiction, dependence and withdrawal symptoms
Rather than mellowing people out with continual use as commonly believed, smoking weed often amplifies mood disorders and emotional volatility as the aging process unfolds.
Protecting Health If You Smoke Weed
Implementing healthier habits can help minimize marijuana’s aging effects so cannabis users can still experience benefits like pain relief without exacerbating health decline.
Avoid Smoking - Use Safer Consumption Methods
Instead of smoking weed, consider safer alternative delivery methods without the risks of inhaling smoke like:
- Cannabis edibles, oils, tinctures
- Oral sprays, strips, capsules or tablets
- Transdermal patches
- Vaporization devices that heat flower without combustion
Vaping poses less oxidation and toxins internally. But any THC consumption method should involve only low to moderate intakes to prevent addiction downsides.
Eat an Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant Diet
Offsetting the free radical and inflammation burdens smoking weed imposes requires packing your diet with ample antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrition from real, whole foods like:
- Fruits: Berries, tart cherry, avocado, mango
- Veggies: Spinach, kale, broccoli, cabbage, tomatoes
- Herbs, teas, spices: Turmeric, ginger, green tea
- Healthy fats & oils: Olive oil, avocado oil, nuts
LEAN protein choices also assist detoxification processes crucial to clearing weed byproducts from the system. This comprehensive nutrition load better equips the body to withstand cannabis-inflicted aging.
Stay Active with Exercise
Increasing activity levels serves as another buffer to counterbalance smoking weed risks. Along with aiding healthy aging, regular exercise helps by:
- Boosting antioxidants to meet free radical threats
- Reducing systemic inflammation
- Detoxing THC deposits stored in fat cells
- Preserving muscle and supporting metabolism
All types of movement help - strength training, cardio, flexibility, balance work and mobility. But achieving at least 30 minutes daily provides optimal support.
Implementing strategies like these empowers weed smokers to experience more benefits with fewer hazards to long-term health and longevity.
FAQs
Does smoking weed really age your skin faster?
Yes, the oxidative stress and inflammation from smoking cannabis accelerates skin aging leading to more wrinkles, dull tone, uneven texture, sagging and blemishes over time.
What negative effects does weed have on internal organs?
Habitual pot smoking contributes to accelerated aging of the lungs, heart, arteries, kidneys and liver while also harming fertility and mental health similar to tobacco use but often to a lesser degree.
Can you offset the aging effects of smoking weed?
Consuming weed through healthier methods like vaping flower or using edibles limits aging impacts. An antioxidant-rich diet, daily exercise, and moderating weed intake also helps counterbalance downsides.
Is occasional weed smoking really that bad as you get older?
Using cannabis sporadically may not pose substantial threats to longevity. But chronic, heavy use of weed or THC clearly inflicts compounding damage over decades that quickens aging body-wide - both visibly and internally.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
Add Comment