The impact of cannabis on the urinary system is not yet fully understood. However, there is some evidence that it can worsen your bladder function if you suffer from an undiagnosed urinary condition.
To understand more about this, we conducted a pilot study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). We compared urine proteins of cannabis users to healthy controls.
1. Diuretic
Cannabis (THC) is a psychoactive drug that can affect your urinary system in several ways. It can increase your heart rate and the amount of urine you produce.
Moreover, it can cause inflammation in the blood vessels, leading to a higher risk of heart disease and heart attacks. Earlier this year, researchers at Stanford Medicine found that people who smoke marijuana are more likely to have their first heart attack before age 50.
It also increases your risk of developing mental health conditions, like anxiety and depression, because it activates a receptor in the brain that is linked to these conditions. It can even lead to a condition called hallucinations, where you see or hear things that aren’t there.
In addition, it can cause nausea and vomiting. These side effects can be severe, especially in children and adolescents.
The impact of cannabis on the urinary system can be influenced by its dosage, frequency, and method of administration. It can also depend on your individual response to the drug, whether it is smoked, eaten or taken by injection.
Medicinal and recreational use of cannabis can have a wide range of physical and mental effects, which include euphoria, altered states of mind, difficulty concentrating, a decreased appetite, relaxation, impaired body movement, and more. At high doses, it can also cause anxiety, paranoia, delusions and psychosis.
2. Inflammatory
Inflammation is a major cause of a wide variety of ailments including back pain, arthritis flare ups, headaches, bowel disorders and even heart disease. It’s also an immune system response that is often triggered by stress.
People can have different experiences with cannabis and how it affects them depends on a variety of factors, including the amount taken, the method of use and the frequency of consumption. Some feel euphoric and relaxed, while others can have an anxiety-like effect.
The impact of cannabis on the urinary system can be positive, as it has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. This may be one of the reasons why some people find cannabis to be a better treatment for their symptoms than anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin or ibuprofen.
Researchers have found that regular cannabis use is associated with a reduction in inflammation biomarkers, such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and fibrinogen. However, these findings aren’t statistically significant, which is why further studies need to be done to determine the exact mechanisms behind cannabis’s anti-inflammatory effects.
To investigate the impact of cannabis on the urinary system, we performed a mass spectrometry-based analysis of urine samples from regular cannabis users and healthy controls. We identified a large number of urinary proteins that were significantly altered in the cannabis group compared to healthy controls.
Among these up-regulated proteins, several were involved in innate immunity and growth pathways. Others were implicated in carbohydrate metabolic pathways. These results indicate that consistent cannabis consumption stimulates a wide array of immunological and metabolic pathways, and may modulate the release of additional proteins in urine. This may be beneficial for the development of intravesical therapeutics to treat LUTS locally by targeting certain signaling pathways.
3. Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a very common infection that affects the urethra, bladder, and kidneys. They happen when bacteria that normally live in the body, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), move into these parts and multiply.
These microorganisms can cause a lot of pain, and they may also lead to an inflammation reaction. This inflammatory reaction is designed to kill bacteria, but it can also lead to damage to the surrounding tissue and organs.
Fortunately, CBD can help with urinary tract infections by easing the inflammation that is caused by these bacteria. It also can help stop the immune system’s response to the bacteria, reducing pain and stopping the infection from spreading.
In addition, CBD can reduce the risk of recurrence. This is because some bacteria can invade your cells and grow into colonies that are resistant to antibiotics.
Some people who have a urinary tract infection may get it again, even after treatment. Doctors call this relapse.
It usually happens if the bacteria re-invade your cells within a fortnight of antibiotics. It is especially common in women, who are more likely to have this problem than men.
If you have a UTI, your health care provider will test your urine to see which microorganism is causing it. They will then recommend the right type of antibiotic for you.
They might also order a urine dipstick and a urine culture to check the amount of bacteria and other microorganisms in your urine. These tests can give you the information you need to start treatment as soon as possible.
For more serious UTIs, your health care provider might order a cystoscopy to look inside your bladder and urethra. This is usually a more effective way to treat the infection.
4. Erectile Dysfunction
The urinary system plays an important role in the erection process. Its vascular system sends blood to the penis, which then acts on nerves to produce an erection. Several other factors affect the process of erectile function, including hormones and mental health.
For some men, erectile dysfunction (ED) is an ongoing problem that makes it hard to get or maintain an erection for sex. It can be caused by a number of conditions and treatments, but there is a wide range of options to help.
One common treatment is to use a vacuum constriction device that draws air into the penis to draw blood to the area. This is a safe and effective method for treating most causes of ED, but it has some downsides.
There are also many oral medications that can treat erectile dysfunction, such as Levitra or Cialis. However, it is important to understand that these drugs can cause side effects and should not be used without first consulting with a doctor.
Other treatments for erectile dysfunction include surgery or injections. Muse, an acronym for medicated urethral system for erection, is a treatment that involves placing a pellet of medication into the penile urethra to stimulate the production of prostaglandin E1 and improve erections.
Another approach to treat erectile dysfunction is to prescribe drugs that stimulate the male hormone testosterone to increase sexual activity. If these methods fail, a medical specialist can refer patients to a urologist who can provide more effective options.
The impact of cannabis on the urinary system is a complex issue, and research isn’t conclusive yet. However, some studies suggest that cannabis may have a negative effect on the urinary system and could lead to issues like erectile dysfunction.
5. Bladder Cancer
People with bladder cancer may experience uncomfortable side-effects such as troublesome urinary symptoms or incontinence. The use of cannabis for treatment is one option available to patients and their healthcare professionals.
The effects of cannabis vary from person to person and are dependent on a number of factors, such as the dose and tolerance. Some people feel euphoric, while others experience relaxation and increased motivation. The experience also varies based on the amount of THC consumed and how it is used (smoking or eating an edible).
It is important to note that THC can be absorbed through both the lungs and the digestive tract when smoked, as well as through the bloodstream when eaten. This means that the effect of smoking THC is more immediate than when consumed through an edible.
However, the effect of eating an edible is much more subtle and slow-building. This makes it a more suitable choice for people who want to consume a small amount of THC to enjoy its benefits.
Using an edible can help to reduce the risk of overactive bladder and related problems, such as incontinence. This is due to the effects of CBD, which can help to regulate the body’s inflammatory response and reduce neuroinflammation.
In addition, it can also reduce the frequency of urination and increase urine output. This is a potential benefit for those with bladder cancer, as well as other conditions that involve a high risk of overactive bladder.
To further investigate the impact of cannabis on the bladder, researchers looked at the proteins in urine. They found that regular cannabis users have a number of changes to a large number of proteins. These alterations are largely associated with the immune and metabolic pathways.
