effects of cannabis on your body the cannabis plant is one of the most popular medicinal and recreational remedies in the world known by a variety of names there are several ways to make use of it you can smoke it apply it as an oil and even add it to the food you eat no matter how you make use of cannabis it does leave both short and long term effects on your body with the cannabis moving into your bloodstream an increased heart rate and changes in perception are two common immediate effects of cannabis while it does have long-term effects scientists have not yet made certain of its extent and nature with that in mind here is a look at the effects of cannabis on your body effects on the respiratory system cannabis smoke contains several toxic chemicals including hydrogen cyanide and ammonia these can irritate your lungs and the air passages leading to it cannabis smoke can also cause existing respiratory conditions such as asthma to aggravate and cause major problems for you the irritation in your lungs may cause coughing phlegm or wheezing although cannabis smoke does contain carcinogens there has been no direct link between the drug and lung cancer effects on the circulatory system cannabis has an almost immediate effect on your circulatory system as soon as thc moves to your blood and then to your brain your heartbeat could show a jump of 20 to 50 beats per minute just a few minutes after taking the drug the increased heart rate might last for up to three hours this places extra stress on your heart which takes in more oxygen the risk of a heart attack could be aggravated if you have an underlying heart condition your blood vessels expand which is the main cause for bloodshot eyes after taking cannabis however cannabis can also ease pressure in your eyes relieving symptoms of glaucoma effects on the central nervous system cannabis has a prominent effect on the central nervous system throughout the body it eases inflammation pain and can help control seizures and body spasms it can also trigger the release of dopamine a hormone that makes you feel better dopamine also heightens your sense of time and perception while giving you a high however the release of dopamine can cause dependence and addiction some symptoms of cannabis withdrawal include insomnia irritability loss of appetite cannabis also affects other parts of your brain it can impair information processing balance movement and coordination cannabis can heighten some mental conditions such as anxiety and it is especially harmful if you have a history of schizophrenia in your family effects on the digestive system cannabis effect on the digestive system starts from the mouth where it can cause a burning sensation if inhaled cannabis usually increases appetite and gives you the munchies this makes it a solid option to try out if you need to put on some weight quickly effects on the immune system cannabis is known to suppress the immune system which may prove to be harmful to people however it also helps people living with autoimmune conditions thank you for watching our video please do not forget to like and share the video also please subscribe to the channel to stay updated on our latest videos