How does medical cannabis affect asthma? In this article, we explain the relationship between medical cannabis and asthma. Can you help with relief? Or does it aggravate the disease?

How does medical cannabis affect asthma?


In this article, we explain the relationship between medical cannabis and asthma.


Can you help with relief? Or does it aggravate the disease?

Asthmatics are familiar with the constricted lung condition. Whenever a frightening seizure, drowsiness, shortness of breath, and wheezing occur frequently.

If you’re an asthmatic who enjoys marijuana smoking, life can be a little more complicated.

This begs the question: can you use medical marijuana as an asthma? Does it help your condition or does it just make it worse? This article examines these issues.


Can medical cannabis affect asthma?


What is asthma and what causes it?


Asthma causes breathing problems, accompanied by a wheezing, whistling sound every time you have a seizure. But what exactly happens during a seizure?

The airways in the lungs are narrow and swollen. In some cases, mucus may form. Some may cope with it and find it a minor inconvenience, but for others it can even be fatal.

The next logical question would be, "Am I having asthma?" This is partly a matter of heredity, and if you have close relatives who have asthma, chances are you are. Another part would be an allergic condition.

Then there are lifestyle factors such as obesity, chain smoking, and pollution from passive smoking and other hazardous chemicals.


Now what causes asthma? The seizure can be triggered by a variety of external factors, such as allergens in the air, certain food additives, and even cold air. Then there are medical conditions like colds, or complex ones like gastroesophageal reflux (or simply known as GÖR) where stomach acid rises in your throat.


Medications such as beta-blockers, ibuprofen and aspirin, as well as stress and strong negative emotions can also cause asthma.


Symptoms of asthma

Asthma attacks can vary from person to person. In some people, seizures intensify as soon as they are exposed to one of the triggers. But others only experience seizures during strenuous exercise.


However, the symptoms will all be similar. If you go through the following, you know you have a complete asthma attack:

  •  Shortness of breath on each exhalation.
  •  Breathing difficulty as if you had just run a full marathon.
  •  Hard, dry cough aggravated by wheezing. .
  •  Interrupted sleep cycles due to difficulty breathing.


How does cannabis affect asthmatic patients?

Although there are different ways to use cannabis in today’s legalization era, smoking is still liked by many. The reality is that many “herbalists” are unable to leave this habit despite their asthmatic condition.

So to be able to answer the protracted questions and debates, science finally got on. In April, an expert group conducted research [1] on 3 cannabis-treated asthmatics.

Study participants reported an improvement in their condition, so the researchers decided to dig deeper into their data. First, the bronchodilator effect of cannabis was experienced, in which cannabis essentially relaxes the muscles of the lungs to widen the airways. There were also anti-inflammatory effects.

Nevertheless, the other factor that enters the lungs remains, which can also cause respiratory irritation. It can also lead to the development of chronic bronchitis.

Do you smoke medical cannabis for asthma?

We covered some of the negative effects of marijuana smoking on asthma. Whether you use it for recreational or medical purposes, inhaling smoke into a weakened lung is risky.



So now that we’ve taken the benefits, let’s focus on the long-term risks:

  • If cannabis is smoked, large, fluid-filled sachets (also known as bullae) can easily form in your lungs. If you also have asthma, this is a problem you would rather not want.
  • Over time, the bull can develop into pneumothorax, a life-threatening disease also known as a collapsed lung.


The short-term risks are just as ugly. They can quickly worsen your asthma symptoms and make your experience much more unfortunate. You are likely to experience these:

  •  Shortness of breath on exhalation
  •  Shortness of breath
  •  Sludge formation
  •  Increased cough
  •  Lung infections


Other forms of cannabis for asthma


So, since smoking is definitely on the list of options, are there other ways to use cannabis that can relieve asthma symptoms? Of course it is.


Here are some more methods you can try:


 Evaporation

You’ve probably heard of the comparison between smoking and smoking, and you probably have your own preferences. But when we talk about what a “healthier” option is, it will all warn you about what physical and chemical changes flowers are going through.

when steaming, the appliance only heats the herb to a certain temperature threshold. This heat activates both the cannabinoids and the terpenes present in the plant and releases them in the form of steam, which are then inhaled.

Smoking, on the other hand, burns plant material and therefore makes it carcinogenic. And according to the American Lung Association [4], cannabis smoke can release more tar compared to tobacco. That can't be good.

If you want to keep cannabis smoking, evaporation is the next best option. It may not be 100% safe, but it is definitely a better option compared to smoking - especially if you have asthma.


Inhaler

Thanks to legalization, medical experts have made improvements in their respective fields to highlight and adapt the benefits of cannabis. Today, a loyal old friend of an asthmatic - the inhaler - can even be used as a reliable means of consumption.

Cannabis inhalers are similar to vaporizers in that they use steam instead of smoke. The main difference, however, is that you get more accurate doses with an inhaler.

These inhalers usually have high THC. Almost like a normal inhaler, cannabinoid enters the lungs through a propellant. And as mentioned, these inhalers give you accurate doses. With each bloat, you get the same amount so you don’t consume too much.

The best thing about cannabis inhalers is that they are not very conspicuous. You can easily slide it into your pocket and make a few puffs wherever you want. Now imagine that you have such freedom everywhere.


Traditional asthma therapies against cannabis

The type of treatment your doctor prescribes depends on the severity of your illness. Traditional treatments can be prescribed in the form of acupuncture, diet plans, and dietary supplements, but the most common solution is usually an inhaler for quick relief.

But with the ability to infuse inhalers with THC, asthmatics can very well enjoy both worlds of immediate relief and long-term relief from stressful illness, for which, unfortunately, there is no real cure yet.

Further research is needed on the links between cannabis and asthma, but let’s face it: cannabis has a calming, relaxing effect and can be beneficial for anyone with asthma. Smoking the herb is definitely ruled out, but the other options are definitely worth a look.


Source: Medical Cannabis for Asthmatic Patients - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov