Alcohol and Marijuana - Health Factors

Family History

There are many risk factors for heart disease and cancer. I am going to take a look at mine starting with my diet and ending with alcohol and marijuana use. My diet consists of a lot of burritos, sandwiches, eggs, and cheeseburgers, which can be high in saturated and trans fats. The saturated fat in eggs and beef increase my risk of heart disease along with colon and prostate cancer. The trans fat found in greasy cheeseburgers raises LDL cholesterol levels while lowering the HDL cholesterol levels that help transport cholesterol out of my arteries that would have prevented heart disease. Some of my personal behaviors that positively impact my risks for cancer and heart disease include on overall low-fat diet (when I'm not eating cheeseburgers) that include tuna fish, salmon, tofu, and soymilk. These foods have omega-3 fatty acids that reduce heart attacks and some cancers. I also eat a lot of avocados and peanut butter, which can lower LDL cholesterol levels and reduce risk of heart disease and some cancers.

There is no history of heart disease in my family, but a lot of people in my family have been diagnosed with lung cancer. Since I don't smoke cigarettes I did some research on marijuana, which I smoke frequently. I learned that although both marijuana and tobacco smoke are packed with cancer-causing chemicals, other qualities of marijuana seem to keep it from promoting lung cancer, according to a new report. (1) A researcher from Johns Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore said, "Marijuana, unlike tobacco and alcohol, does not appear to cause head, neck, or lung cancer. " (2) Also there are population studies that have failed to link marijuana smoking with a higher risk of lung cancer. However there is a lot of evidence that it causes severe respiratory problems, such as chronic cough and frequent respiratory infections. As for heart disease, the cannabis chemical actually helps ward of heart disease. Swiss researchers found THC, one of 60 cannabinoids in the drug, helped stop the narrowing of arteries to the brain and heart in a study of mice. However the team, from Geneva University Hospital, said smoking cannabis did not produce the same effect. (3) So to lower my risk of heart disease I'd have to stick to weed brownies.

Alcohol proved to have very negative impact on my risks for cancer and heart disease. Alcohol damages cells, thereby promoting cell division; stimulates enzymes that activate other carcinogens; robs the body of cancer-protective