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Does Smoking Weed Help Asthma

Does Smoking Make Asthma Worse

Yes. If you have asthma, smoking is especially risky because of the damage it does to the .

Smoke irritates the airways, making them swollen, narrow, and filled with sticky mucus the same things that happen during an asthma flare-up. That’s why smoking can cause asthma flare-ups to happen more often. They also might be more severe and harder to control, even with medicine.

Best Methods Of Marijuana Treatment To Use To Treat Asthma

Cannabis for asthma has the potential to ease many symptoms patients experience, regardless of which method they use. However, this doesnt mean all the methods of consumption are equal in efficiency. Furthermore, it doesnt mean theyre all entirely harmless either. Important things to consider when deciding on your method of marijuana treatment use for your asthma are:

  • Potential for immediate relief
  • Optimal safety
  • Controllable efficiency and dosage

While smoking medical weed is still an option, it does depend on how severe your asthma is, since smoking could trigger an asthma attack or escalate one. Because of this, you may want to consider other methods of use.

For instance, you can consume edibles, also called medibles, for long-term asthma treatment since they have certain variables, like the time they take to produce effects. They may not be appropriate for providing instant relief during an attack. A good option for emergency treatments could be vaporizing. Vaporizing releases cannabinoids in your body quickly while reducing any risk to your lungs.

To the healthy human body, smoking medical marijuana isnt harmful. But when suffering from asthma, you have to watch out for anything that can compromise your respiratory system.

The Link Between Mental Health And Asthma

Around two to five of every 10 individuals who have asthma also struggle with depression. Since asthma is a difficult condition to manage, this is understandable. With asthma, you may feel anxious about engaging in physical activity, and this could mean missing work or school. But anxiety or depression can increase your risk for asthma.

One study with over 18,000 adults found that those who experienced severe depression, anxiety or stress in their childhood had a greater risk of having asthma. According to researchers, experiences like these could harm a childs immune and nervous systems, resulting in asthma later in their lives.

Since mental health problems like anxiety or depression can affect every aspect of your life and make it difficult for you to take care of yourself and manage your asthma effectively, they require attention.

Vaporization As A Safer Alternative To Smoking

While growing evidence demonstrates the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD and certain benefits of THC, the burning of plant material releases cancer-causing compounds. While there is no compelling evidence to support the idea that smoking cannabis causes cancer and at low to moderate frequency of use, cannabis smoking has not been showing to cause lung dysfunction, vaporization is a safer inhalation method.

The inhalation of marijuana smoke is unnecessary for the experience of its potential benefits even when an inhalation delivery method is best for an individual patient and their unique symptoms, vaporization is a safer and similarly effective option. If you currently smoke cannabis, switching to vaporization is a healthier option.

Vaping Brings Toxins Too

Marijuana and Asthma: What Are the Benefits and Risks?

There are so many differences among devices, how theyâre being used, ingredients, and possible toxins in what you inhale. None of that is well-studied, Rizzo says. âAgain, more research is needed.â

âAll these devices are superheating … like crack ,â Mannino notes. âNone of that is good for you.â

As for edibles, theyâre not smoked, so thereâs no proof theyâd harm the lungs. But thereâs also no proof that theyâre safe, Mannino says. One study found reasons for concern about the largely unchecked, growing edible cannabis product market. The variable or mixed strength of edibles has led to reports of mental distress, and -related side effects, and a rise in ER visits.

Secondhand Marijuana Smoke Causes Asthma Symptoms In Child Allergic To Cannabis

After cannabis is removed from home, asthma symptoms improve.

SEATTLE Its well established that secondhand smoke from cigarettes is a risk to anyone who suffers from asthma. New research being presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting shows its possible for both children and adults with uncontrolled asthma to find their symptoms worsening due to cannabis allergy and exposure to marijuana smoke.

A 6-year-old boy suffering with severe asthma had family members who frequently smoked marijuana in the house, says allergist Bryce Hoffman, MD, ACAAI member and lead author of the study. Even though family members didnt smoke marijuana in the same room as the child, he was exposed to traces of smoke and plant material. It was not clear why his asthma was so severe and not responding to aggressive asthma therapies until we determined he was allergic to cannabis. After the cannabis was removed from the house, his asthma improved.

In addition to the young boys allergies to cannabis, the study indicates his grandmother also had a history of hives after personal use of cannabis.

If your child has asthma that isnt well controlled, see an allergist. An allergist can set your child on the right track for the long term to handle their allergies or asthma.

Abstract Title: Cannabis allergy in a young child with severe asthma exposed to secondhand marijuana smoke Bryce Hoffman, MD, ACAAI member

What Are Some Adverse Effects Of Cannabis

Joanna Zeiger: Cannabis can cause psychosis in some people, as well as cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, a situation where vaping of certain illicit products of cannabis causes severe abdominal pain and vomiting.

Other adverse effects of cannabis include cough, wheeze, shortness of breath, sleepiness, poor concentration and coordination.

The mantra in the world of cannabis is to start low and go slow. This means start with low doses and build up use slowly until you reach a beneficial amount or potential adverse effects. This approach is similar to starting most medications.

Smoking Weed Vs A Cigarette

Many people think marijuana is “healthier” than and that if you’re going to smoke something, pot is the lesser of two evils.

There is some truth to this, Dr. Gerber says.

“Pot has fewer inhalants in it than tobacco,” he says, adding that people tend to only take a few puffs off a blunt rather than chain smoke like tobacco users may do with cigarettes. This can lead to less product being inhaled over time.

On a cellular level, however, marijuana smoke may actually be more harmful than tobacco smoke.

In the Journal of the American Heart Association study, the rats’ blood vessels took at least three times longer to recover function after only a minute of breathing secondhand marijuana smoke, compared with recovery after a minute of breathing secondhand tobacco smoke.

In addition, the researchers noted in the Frontiers in Pharmacology study that cannabis smoking caused harmful effects on lung function and inflammation that tobacco smoking did not.

Current Methods Of Treating Asthma Patients

Anti-inflammatory drugs are the most popular treatment among people suffering from asthma. The steroids are inhaled through devices called inhalers, which are short-acting broncho-dilators. Broncho-dilators work to open your airway passages relieving shortness of breath, wheezing, cough and chest tightness caused by asthma.

Asthma affects an estimated 35 million people each year, claiming the lives of 4,000 Americans each year.

Some patients with more serious cases of asthma treat themselves with breathing-treatments. A nebulizer is an in-home machine that changes the medication from a liquid to a mist so that it can be more easily absorbed by the lungs when inhaled . These treatments may cause restlessness, headaches, nausea, and even more serious side effects such as seizures.

Final Thoughts On Asthma And Cannabis Use

Smoking marijuana over time may lead to decreased lung function and other related respiratory conditions, so it wouldnt be advised for patients suffering from asthma to consume cannabis by inhaling it. That involves smoking, vaping, or using smoking devices like bongs, pipes, dabs, and others.

However, using marijuana in other forms may prove to be beneficial for asthma patients, though more research is needed on the subject in order to confirm its safety and effectiveness.

If you do decide to use medical marijuana for asthma treatment, make sure you speak to a licensed physician, since this article is only intended to provide information, not to give medical advice on the subject. Do additional research and consult with your doctor when it comes to deciding what forms of marijuana may benefit your case.

Disclaimer

The information presented on this page is provided as a public service to aid in education and is derived from sources believed to be reliable. Readers are responsible for making their own assessment of the topics discussed here. In no event shall Leaf Nation be held reliable for any injury, loss or damage that could happen if using or abusing drugs.

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Treat The Real Issues

All of our experts agree that if you have asthma, particularly if it’s severe or uncontrolled, then you should avoid smoking pot or using marijuana in any form.

If you’re considering smoking marijuana to help with a medical condition, like asthma or anxiety , you should instead get proper treatment for that condition specifically, Dr. Gerber says.

That may mean changing to a daily or different asthma medication and getting therapy and/or medication to control anxiety.

The bottom line is that no one wantslung damage, but because asthma already causes lung damage, people with asthma need to be even more careful with what they put in their lungs.

My Thoughts On Asthma And Smoking

I do know some people who have asthma who also smoke. One of my friends said she thought it was fine to do because she no longer has asthma. However, I humbly reminded her that its a myth that asthma goes away with age, and that, even though she displays no symptoms, she still has it. So, be warned, I said.

And I dont judge people. Thats not the point here. Its a free country, so Im not an advocate of laws forcing people to not do something they choose to do. A am, however, of the belief that education is important. Plus, I think Id feel guilty if my friend with asthma who smokes actually developed worsening asthma or COPD and I never said anything. So, I did. And I wont say anything further.

Okay, so, it has been known for years now that smoking can make your asthma worse. My doctor warned me not to do it. So, heres my humble reminder to all my fellow asthmatics not to smoke, and if you do smoke, and if you’re interested, heres your incentive to quit. If youre a former smoker, I commend you for quitting.

Indica Vs Sativa Vs Hybrid

Can Cannabis Help Asthma Patients?

If youve spoken to your doctor, and theyve approved the use of marijuana to treat your insomnia, its time to choose a strain.

Think of choosing a strain like choosing a tea blend. You could go for straight white or black tea, or a hybrid. Here are the three most common kinds of strains youll encounter:

  • Indica. This type of strain is considered soothing and relaxing.
  • Sativa. Generally, sativa strains make people feel excited, happy, and energized.
  • Hybrids. A combination of both indica and sativa, hybrids are blends that are often left up to the manufacturer or dispensary.

You can always ask people at a dispensary to recommend a strain for you or to help you find what youre looking for.

Dr. Jordan Tishler, a Harvard-trained physician and cannabis therapeutics specialist, recommends a strain with less than 20 percent THC. Anything more than that, he says, will make dosing difficult. Too much THC might make you feel groggy and sleepy the next morning.

Different strains will also have different amounts of cannabinoids in them, but when it comes to getting sleep, both Roman and Tishler recommend an indica strain to induce sleep.

How Did My Experiment With Edibles And The Decarboxylator Go

To be honest, I was almost afraid to eat those cookies. I licked the spoon while baking a couple of times, ingesting maybe a tablespoon of raw dough, and for the rest of the night was stoned enough to suffer from dry mouth and even a hangover the next morning. Having a super-powered batch of two dozen weed cookies sitting in my cabinet means I have to be careful to only ingest a small nibble here and there to get the medicinal effects.

That’s the great thing about edibles: they’re often so strong, it maximizes the impact that one small amount of marijuana can have. For many people, they are much, much stronger than smoking or vaping. But I had to play with my dosages over about a week’s time to find the right balance, and I definitely ate a little too much cookie one night, which left me feeling groggy and puffy-eyed the next day. Now I know that about one-fifth of one cookie, two hours before bedtime, is enough to make me sleep like a rock without dealing with a morning hangover. And the cookies have made great gifts for a couple of my pothead friends nothing says love quite like handmade drugs.

With the right tools and, of course, the right amount of weed anything is possible.

Ardent’s decarboxylator and infusion kits can be purchased at .

More must-know cannabis info:

What Are The Symptoms Of Asthma

There are various asthma symptoms including:

  • Frequent coughing spells which may happen when laughing or exercising.
  • Less energy during activities or having to pause to catch your breath.
  • Tightening or pain in your chest.
  • A feeling of weakness or tiredness.

There are numerous ways that asthma is triggered. Due to sensitive airways, contact with triggers cause symptoms to get worse. These triggers can include:

  • Changes in temperature and/or humidity.
  • Strong emotions such as laughing, crying or .
  • Exercise
  • Chest pressure, pain or tightness

The Risks Of Using Weed With Asthma

The marijuana plant itself doesnt appear to have an adverse effect on asthma unless you are allergic to it. However, smoking marijuana does have the potential to cause problems. Smoking weed ups your chances of developing lung cancer, and the smoke may aggravate asthma symptoms in many people, If your asthma symptoms appear to get worse when using cannabis, the potential benefits are probably not worth the risks, and you should discontinue use.

Q: Is weed bad for asthma?A:As long as you are not allergic to cannabis, there is no evidence that marijuana on its own is bad for asthma. Smoking weed may contribute to asthma symptoms, but it appears to be the smoke itself that is the irritant not the cannabis.

Secondhand Marijuana Smoke And Asthma

There have been documented cases of asthma symptoms being caused by cannabis allergy. If you are allergic to cannabis, its highly likely that exposure to plant particles or marijuana smoke in the air will induce asthma symptoms or attacks. Even if you are not allergic to weed, secondhand marijuana smoke is highly irritating to the lungs and could exacerbate asthma symptoms.

How Does Marijuana Affect Lung Function

As the early studies showed, marijuana opens up the airways.4 This effect lasts for about one hour.8

Another study showed that people who smoke marijuana have more lung capacity.2 This study included people with and without asthma. One theory to explain this is that people smoke marijuana differently than cigarettes. They tend to inhale marijuana more deeply and hold their breath longer.1 This action might stretch the lungs or strengthen the chest wall muscles.8 These changes may affect the results of lung function tests. However, it is not clear how such changes might affect lung function in daily life.8

One study included more than 5000 people with and without asthma.8 Information about tobacco use, marijuana smoking, and lung function was collected for 20 years. People who used tobacco had less lung function. On the other hand, low-level marijuana was not linked to lower lung function. Low-level marijuana use was defined as 7 joint-years or less. This study did suggest that heavy marijuana use might reduce lung function.

Marijuana and tobacco smoking often overlaps. One study showed that 77% of people who smoked marijuana also smoked tobacco.1 This makes it hard to study their different effects.

Dont Give Up On Your Pharmaceutical Treatment

It may be tempting to give up on pharmaceutical drugs altogether, especially when cannabis-induced results exceed expectations. However, existing anecdotal evidence, including this article, is not enough to guarantee safety in all possible asthma-related situations.

Asthma is by nature unpredictable, as it depends on literally hundreds of factors ranging from environmental ones to dietary habits, and even psychological states. Ironically enough, you could even experience a small panic attack following the realisation that your inhaler is not in your pocket, which could in turn trigger an asthma-related issue. Do not underestimate the multiple effects your prescription drugs can have on you, including the placebo effect.

What Are The Asthma

Marijuana smoke is generally unfiltered. Smokers inhale marijuana more deeply than tobacco smoke. As a result, more tar ends up in the lungs.1 Marijuana smoke damages the lining of the airway and increases airway inflammation, which can trigger asthma symptoms.8

Compared with nonsmokers, marijuana smokers are more likely to have , cough on most days, phlegm, wheezing, and chest sounds.1 Their breathing symptoms are very similar to tobacco smokers.

Can You Explain What You Mean When You Say It May Not Be The Right Cannabis Product

Marijuana and asthma: Does it help or harm?

Joanna Zeiger: There are all sorts of cannabis products out there. Some have lots of CBD and no THC, some have all THC and no CBD, and there are variations in between. Each person responds differently to different ratios of CBD and THC.

It takes some time to determine what works best. Plus, there is the route of administration. Some people like oils, while others do better with edibles. We do not recommend inhalation for people with asthma. So there is some experimentation involved.

Meet The Patient: Mark

Mark is a Dutchman and one of the cannabis experts wehave the honour of counting in the Sensi Seeds team. He lives in theNetherlands, where the weather can be very humid, and where pollen and variousplant matter is known to fly around, even in big cities, and especially in spring.

Mark has suffered from asthma all his life, and has been medicating with cannabis for more than two decades.

In order to give a concrete reference to our readers, here are a few details about how Mark handles his condition, and the severity of his symptoms.

  • Pharmaceutical treatment: , 1 puff per day, , 1 to 2 puffs per day.
  • Cannabis treatment: Daily of dried cannabis flowers .
  • Physical activity: Mostly sedentary, with daily, average pace walking.
  • Background: From very severe to manageable .

Due to all these years of self-medicating, Mark hasaccumulated a large amount of empirical knowledge in terms of what works bestwhen it comes to cannabis and asthma. Read his dos and donts below.

Best Strains Of Marijuana To Use For Asthma

Which strain of marijuana is best for easing your asthma symptoms? Since medical pot contains over 80 different cannabinoids all affecting various areas of your body and brain, youll need to experiment before you find the perfect strain for your individual asthma case. If you have access to a medical marijuana-friendly doctor, they might recommend certain strains. But if you dont, heres a list you can start with.

Dont Use Cannabis Dabs

Dabs are becoming increasingly popular. Medicinal cannabis dabs are also gaining ground, but in the context of asthma, they simply dont fit the bill. does not equate vaporizing, as it can potentially expose your lungs to an overwhelming experience. Besides, the potency of most dabs can be a hazard, especially if you are already in a state of major stress and/or anxiety.

Is Vaping Ok For People With Asthma

Some people with asthma might think that  are a safe alternative to smoking. E-cigarettes don’t fill the lungs with smoke, but do put nicotine in your system. Besides being an addictive drug, nicotine is also toxic in high doses, and raises blood pressure and heart rate.

Experts also agree that the vapors from e-cigarettes are harmful not only to those to vape, but to those around them. 

Lung Health Institute Can Help You Find Alternative Copd Treatments

At Lung Health Institute, we know alternative treatments can help treat COPD and other chronic lung diseases. This is why our team has developed several alternative treatment options designed to benefit chronic lung disease patients. We offer 3 Anti-Inflammatory Initiative plans. These plans provide information about lung-healthy foods and recipes, exercising and helpful supplements. Using this program may help you boost your immune system naturally and may help train your body to use fats to fight inflammation. Another alternative treatment we offer is cellular therapy. Cellular therapy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses concentrated platelets and cells from your body to target lung disease. These platelets release healing properties that, when combined with proteins, growth factors and other helpful cells, may promote healing in damaged tissue and reduce inammation in your lungs.Take the next step to find relief. one of our patient coordinators today for more information or to schedule a free consultation.

Have you or someone you know moved from smoking to vaping? Find out why vaping is being considered the new Big Tobacco.

Can Secondhand Smoke Affect My Asthma

Even if you don’t smoke, you may still run into smoky situations at parties, events, or even at home. Secondhand smoke is a known asthma trigger. You’ll want to avoid it as much as possible if you have asthma.

If you hang out with smokers or have a family member who smokes in the house, you’re likely to have more frequent and severe asthma symptoms. That might mean more medicine and more trips to the doctor’s office or ER.

There’s not much you can do about other people’s behavior. But let your friends and family know that what they’re doing is making your asthma worse. Ask them not to smoke in your house or car.

Chemicals In Smoke Contribute To Inflammation

However, the chemicals in cigarette smoke may irritate asthmatic airways in such a way as to cause neutrophilic inflammation to exist alongside eosinophilic inflammation. Neutrophilic inflammation responds poorly or not at all to corticosteroids. So, smoking can make your lungs less responsive to traditional asthma medicine.2,3

Customize Your Vaporizer With A Water Pipe

Can You Treat Asthma with Cannabis?

Many vaporizers, especially home vaporizers, have the necessary connections allowing them to be hooked to an additional device. Connect a water pipe to your vaporizer, and vaporize through the warm water. This will help you inhale when your lungs are already in a bad shape.

However, ensure that the water does not get too hot as it could have the opposite effect. If you feel like your lungs are filled with mucus, opt for a dry vaporizing session instead. Warm, dry air is good for the lungs.

What Is Cannabis Research Telling Us About The Potential Benefits And Risks Of Using Cannabis For People With Asthma And Allergies

Joanna Zeiger: Asthma is a disease with many causes, meaning not all patients with asthma react the same way to various triggers. For some people with asthma, cannabis is an immediate bronchodilator it relaxes the airways which can help breathing.

The drawbacks are that inhaled cannabis is an irritant and can cause increased cough, sputum and wheezing. So, risks far outweigh benefits and asthma specialists do not recommend inhaled or vaped cannabis for the treatment of asthma.

Cannabis can be used to decrease anxiety, but it can also be a drawback if it decreases the appropriate concern for managing asthma especially if that concern causes patients to stop taking prescribed medicines that control their asthma.

The take-home message is cannabis should not be inhaled or vaped by people with asthma. Other preparations may not have any specific beneficial effects on asthma or other allergic diseases.

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