Cannabis

Smoking 10: Atherosclerosis

A joint containing tobacco has harmful effects on the blood vessels. The damage is caused by the nicotine. Nicotine weakens the vascular walls, making them more porous. It also increases the amounts of LDL (the bad cholesterol) in the bloodstream. This enables LDL to collect along the blood vessel walls.

The body’s response to this resembles an inflammatory reaction. It results in fat accumulation in the vascular walls, making the blood vessels narrower.

For more detail about how smoking affects the blood vessels, click on Nicotine in the Body.