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Bodybuilding and Marijuana

Harmful Effects of Marijuana on Bodybuilding

Marijuana is one of the hottest investment themes around. As some states legalize the weed and more start to allow it for medical use, the business industry is catching on to it. Some pro athletes have also bought into the idea of using marijuana to help curb the pain of activities like professional football. So with all the hype, should you jump on board?

First of all, remember what your mama taught you? That just because everyone is doing something doesn't mean you should be doing it also? Ever hear of the lemmings? If not, search Bing.com for it.

One good reason to avoid marijuana is your brain. Do you really want a lower IQ? The site drugabuse.gov points out:

"However it is ingested, THC (the main chemical in marijuana) acts on specific molecular targets on brain cells, called cannabinoid receptors. These receptors are ordinarily activated by chemicals similar to THC that naturally occur in the body (such as anandamide; see picture, above) and are part of a neural communication network called the endocannabinoid system. This system plays an important role in normal brain development and function.The highest density of cannabinoid receptors is found in parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement. Marijuana overactivates the endocannabinoid system, causing the "high" and other effects that users experience. These effects include altered perceptions and mood, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and disrupted learning and memory. Marijuana also affects brain development, and when it is used heavily by young people, its effects on thinking and memory may last a long time or even be permanent. A recent study of marijuana users who began using in adolescence revealed substantially reduced connectivity among brain areas responsible for learning and memory. And a large long-term study in New Zealand showed that people who began smoking marijuana heavily in their teens lost an average of 8 points in IQ between age 13 and age 38. Importantly, the lost cognitive abilities were not fully restored in those who quit smoking marijuana as adults."

Another thing to consider – do you smoke? Of course not? But marijuana has the same damaging effect on the lungs that regular smoking does.

And there is more. Drugabuse.gov notes "In one study, it was estimated that marijuana users have a 4.8-fold increase in the risk of heart attack in the first hour after smoking the drug. This risk may be greater in older individuals or in those with cardiac vulnerabilities."

These are just a few points of impact that marijuana can have on the user. There are a lot more, and anyone concerned about their health should avoid the weed.

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