It’s not recommended that people with asthma smoke or vape cannabis. Smoking or vaping cannabis can cause increased cough, wheezing and shortness of breath. It can increase risk of an asthma attack or asthma flare.
Is smoking marijuana bad for asthma?
Smoking any substance can increase inflammation in your lungs. This makes asthma symptoms worse. Smoking marijuana may even increase your risk for an asthma attack. In severe cases, you may need to be hospitalized for an asthma attack. This helps to prevent life-threatening complications.
What are the drawbacks of vaping cannabis?
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.
Is vaping bad for Your Lungs?
Smoking and vaping are not recommended for lung health due to reported adverse effects. Inhaling does lead to very fast onset of action, which may be beneficial for people who have severe acute pain but should be avoided in those with asthma.
Why are asthmatics turning to marijuana for relief?
The pharmaceutical drugs used for the treatment of asthma contain steroids and immunomodulators, which, more often than not, have undesirable side effects. These side effects are one of the reasons why some asthmatics seek alternatives such as marijuana for relief.
How many people smoke cannabis with asthma?
In the PEACE survey, 53.4% of cannabis users with asthma smoked it, while 35.2% vaped cannabis. Further, about half of the cannabis smokers with asthma reported uncontrolled asthma symptoms.
How can doctors best help allergy and asthma patients who use cannabis?
In an American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology press release, board-certified allergist William Silvers, MD, said: “In order to more completely manage their allergy and asthma patients, allergists should increase their knowledge about cannabis. These include:
Can you be allergic to cannabis (marijuana)?
Yes, people can be allergic to marijuana. People can develop an allergy to cannabis even if they are not cannabis users. About 2.5% of participants in the PEACE survey who were NOT current cannabis users reported a cannabis allergy. As more states legalize cannabis, doctors should expect to see more people experience allergic reactions to cannabis. This can occur due to occupational exposures. These reactions may be specific to a strain of cannabis.
Can smoking cannabis cause an allergic reaction?
In addition, smoking cannabis or being exposed to secondhand cannabis smoke could cause an allergic reaction.
Does cannabis help asthma?
There may be potential cannabis benefits for asthma when taking it in other ways than smoking or vaping. Alternative ways to use cannabis include: cannabis edibles. cannabis tincture/oil. cannabis topical products.
Is it safe to smoke marijuana with asthma?
Is it safe for people with asthma to smoke cannabis (marijuana)? Many people with asthma are smoking or vaping cannabis. This could be harmful to their lungs and airways, especially in adolescents. In the PEACE survey, 53.4% of cannabis users with asthma smoked it, while 35.2% vaped cannabis.
Can cannabis be used for asthma?
Medical cannabis can be used to treat symptoms of pain, insomnia and anxiety. Researchers say cannabis use is poorly studied in allergy and asthma patients. Last year, Allergy & Asthma Network partnered with Canna Research Foundation to conduct a national survey of adults with asthma and cannabis (marijuana) use.
What is cannabis (marijuana) research telling us about the potential benefits and risks of using cannabis for people with asthma and allergies?
For some people with asthma, cannabis is an immediate bronchodilator – it relaxes the airways which can help breathing.
What do people need to know about starting cannabis (marijuana) as a medical treatment for asthma or allergies?
Joanna Zeiger: I always tell people the first thing to do is figure out what it is you want to treat. For those with chronic illnesses, it would be optimal to have a discussion with a physician knowledgeable in cannabis.
What is the goal of the Allergy & Asthma Network PEACE Study?
Joanna Zeiger: We want to understand how people with asthma and allergies consume cannabis, whether it helps or hinders their allergic conditions and if cannabis affects their usual medication use to treat asthma and allergies.
What are the natural compounds found in cannabis?
THC – tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is the compound in cannabis that is psychoactive and gives the “high” sensation. It’s consumed by smoking and in oils, edibles, tinctures and capsules.
What are the different ways people can consume cannabis (marijuana) as a medical treatment?
Joanna Zeiger: The most common: smoking, vaping, tinctures, oils, topicals and edibles. How you take cannabis can have a different impact. The amount of time until you feel effects of the cannabis can also differ depending on how you administer cannabis.
Should patients tell their doctor if they use cannabis oil or consume/smoke marijuana?
Joanna Zeiger: Yes, patients should not be afraid to discuss cannabis with their doctors. Patients want to be sure there won’t be any adverse effects of using cannabis with any other medications. And doctors need to know the benefits and adverse effects.
Do people have allergic reactions to cannabis (marijuana)?
Joanna Zeiger: Yes, people can have allergic reactions to cannabis. We do not yet know the exact numbers, but it can be an occupational hazard for those who work directly with the plant.
What are the side effects of using a vaporizer for asthma?
Taking in steroids into the body results in side effects such as insomnia, weight gain, an increase in body hair, and acne.
How much has asthma increased in the last 10 years?
In the last ten years alone, these cases have increased by a steady 15% every year. Asthma is irritating, frustrating, and limiting. However, it is a condition that you can easily put under control if you are careful about your environment, and you take your medicine as prescribed.
How often do you get asthma attacks?
Depending on the severity of the condition, a person may get attacks several times every day, several times every week, and some people only get attacks if exposed to too much of the triggers that affect them. The number of asthma cases in the United States has increased steadily since the 1960s.
What causes asthma attacks?
Asthmatic attacks come as a result of inflammation of the airways. When the airways get inflamed, they become constricted, and the constriction restrains the flow of air in and out of the affected person’s lungs.
What causes spasms in the respiratory system?
Asthma starts with the inflammation of the airway, which leads to spasms in the respiratory system.
How many Americans have asthma?
A survey by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute found that 25 million Americans live with asthma. Asthma costs the American economy more than $80 billion in treatment, mortality, and lost work hours. Conventional medicine has not been able to eliminate the condition, and many of the people who have asthma resort to looking ...
When does asthma start?
In adulthood, asthma usually manifests when a person is between 18 and 24 years.
What are the chemicals in inhalable mist?
These include heavy metals (like tin, nickel, and lead) and oily substances that can become trapped in smaller airways. 1
How many people use vaping?
Vaping has become more than a fad with an estimated 11 million users in the United States. 20 Due to the known and unknown that risks e-cigarettes pose, it is difficult to endorse their use or regard them as a "safer" alternative to smoking. This is especially true if you have asthma.
What is asthma characterized by?
Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by acute episodes of airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction (narrowing of airways). The inflammation can cause the airways to become increasingly hyperresponsive to environmental triggers, leading to symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, and chest tightness. E-cigarette vapors should most certainly be included when considering possible triggers.
Can asthma be triggered by vaping?
Because of this, many people with asthma were encouraged to switch to e-cigarettes—that is, vape instead of smoke—under the presumption that the aerosolized vapors were less likely to trigger an asthma attack . But studies now suggest that this may not be the case. There is, in fact, growing evidence that the use of e-cigarettes (vaping) ...
Is it safe to smoke e-cigarettes?
When they were first introduced into the market, electronic cigarettes ( also known as e-cigarettes) were branded as the "safe" alternative to traditional cigarettes. Because of this, many people with asthma were encouraged to switch to e-cigarettes—that is, vape instead of smoke—under the presumption that the aerosolized vapors were less likely to trigger an asthma attack .
Does e-cigarette affect lung function?
The majority of people with e-cigarette-associated lung injury (EVALI) also had traces of vitamin E acetate in their lungs. 14. These factors not only increase the frequency and severity of asthma attacks but may increase the risk of COPD and other lung diseases in people who have never smoked.
Does smoking cause COPD?
Smoking is also responsible for 80% of COPD diagnoses and increases the risk of both heart disease and stroke by as much as 400%. 15. Furthermore, cigarette smoking is known to be a risk factor for the frequency and severity of acute asthma symptoms.
Why are cigarettes dangerous?
The reason cigarettes are dangerous isn’t because of the nicotine. The tar and other chemicals that cause emphysema or cancer make it so dangerous. Burning or inhaling is a bad idea. That’s why we will probably discover that marijuana is bad for your lungs, too.”.
Why are e-cigarettes bad for youth?
These are similar in nature to vaporizers used for marijuana, and can greatly impact youth because of the potential cancer-causing substances they release.
How many states allow medical marijuana?
The research on medical marijuana looks promising. However, we still don’t know whether it’s an effective treatment. Beyond that, only 31 states , as well as Guam, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia allow the use of marijuana for medical use.
What is the active ingredient in marijuana?
Two drugs that are a synthetic laboratory version with chemical structure of or similar to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another active ingredient in marijuana, are approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Can smoking marijuana cause damage?
Smoking marijuana can cause damage with rupture to the walls of adjacent alveoli (small air sacs in the lungs) into larger, ineffective air sacs called bullae. The risk is higher in male smokers under the age of 45.
Does smoking marijuana cause bronchitis?
This is associated with an increased likelihood of developing chronic bronchitis. The inhalation patterns when smoking marijuana are different than when smoking cigarettes.
Is marijuana good for you?
Health benefits of marijuana. Marijuana may provide calming effects that improve certain mental and physical conditions. For instance, a doctor might recommend medical marijuana to people with Crohn’s disease as an alternative way to ease inflammation, nausea, and vomiting .
What Are the Traditional Remedies for Asthma (Not Cannabis Related)?
Unfortunately, asthma is a long-term condition, and at present, there is no permanent cure . When it comes to treatment, the goal is to control the condition which involves:
Why does asthma get worse?
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 stress.
What is asthma management?
Preventing serious asthma attacks that require immediate medical attention. Asthma management involves discovering your triggers and avoiding them. In terms of medication, patients may be prescribed a variety of inhaled medications.
What happens when you have an asthma attack?
It is also common to have asthma attacks which consist of a sudden worsening of symptoms. During an asthma attack, airways swell up, tighten, and can fill with mucus. Symptoms of asthma attacks include:
What are the triggers of asthma?
There are numerous ways that asthma is triggered. Due to sensitive airways, contact with triggers cause symptoms to get worse. These triggers can include: 1 Changes in temperature and/or humidity. 2 Strong emotions such as laughing, crying or stress. 3 Exercise 4 Inhalation of smoke 5 Certain medications such as aspirin 6 Allergens such as pollen, dust mites, and mold spores 7 Infections such as cold or flu
How many hospital visits are there for asthma?
It is a very serious condition that leads to approximately two million hospital visits per year in the United States alone. Here are the three well-known features of asthma.
How many people have asthma?
There is no known cure for the condition, and the number of Americans with it is increasing. Over 25 million of us now have asthma; a total that equates to 8.4% of children and 7.7% of adults.
The Science Behind Vaping
Outside of addiction recovery, vaping is just as dangerous as conventional cigarettes with the added risk of being under-researched. Since their introduction to the mass market, scientists are rushing to conduct studies evaluating the effects of vapes/e-cigarettes.
Consensus
Due to the lack of regulation and the need for further studies, medical professionals have come to a general consensus against vaping unless it is being used as a method of addiction recovery. It is true that some studies, in highly controlled settings, show no increase in symptoms.
Managing Your Asthma
If you smoke, you are at a higher risk of developing asthma over your lifetime. If you’ve experienced any of the following then you need to schedule an appointment with your NYC pulmonologist:
Asthma Treatment NYC
Dr. Shukla will be able to assess your symptoms to help you identify whether or not you have developed asthma. Once diagnosed, Dr. Shukla can help talk you through asthma treatment options to aid you in controlling your day-to-day symptoms as well as any more severe attacks. Anti-inflammatory drugs and bronchodilators are sufficient for most cases.
