Does Weed Help With Asthma? Relief & Benefits
This post is part of our Best Dispensaries in Arizona series, brought to you by SWC Arizona.
Note: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
Asthma is a chronic lung and respiratory condition that affects over 300 million people across the globe. What’s more, there’s an estimated 100 million individuals worldwide projected to be at risk of asthma. In a study conducted with over 800 adults, more than 84% of participants mentioned that asthma can hinder their ability to engage in everyday activities and tasks, and 74% say it adversely impacts their physical health.
Asthma sufferers experience inflamed airways as a direct response to irritants. There are many different forms of asthma, including allergic asthma, exercise-induced asthma, nighttime asthma, steroid-resistant asthma, and cough-variant asthma. Despite all these different variations, there is still not enough research to identify exact causes. It is believed, however, that underlying causes of asthma are linked to genetics, pollution, obesity, allergies, viral respiratory infections, and even hygiene.
If you’ve ever suffered from an asthma attack or have witnessed someone experience an asthma flare up, you know that it can be quite scary and potentially life-threatening. An asthma attack can seemingly come out of nowhere, and can be really scary for the asthmatic patient as well as everyone around. The asthma sufferer may feel chest tightness, as though someone is crushing it or weighing down on it. It can also feel as though the air is being sucked out, leaving the sufferer gasping for air and wheezing. Rescue inhalers can help in some circumstances, but it’s important to understand alternatives, as no asthma treatment is a one-size-fits all.
Does weed help Asthma might seem like a silly question, considering asthma is related to your respiratory system, and smoking can irritate your respiratory system, throat, and airways. That may be reason to think weed and asthma don’t go well together, but we’re here to inform you of all the powerful ways weed is believed to help asthmatic symptoms.
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Weed and Asthma
How does weed help with asthma, and can weed help with asthma flare ups? To understand asthma better, let’s look at the signs–shortness of breath, chest tightness or pain, muscle spasms, excess mucus production, wheezing when exhaling, and a cough. More conventional remedies such as medicated inhalers and pill forms of oral corticosteroids, as well as immune cell stabilizers. might make a difference for asthma sufferers, but in modern times, weed is believed to work as a bronchodilator in some patients, allowing their airways to relax and open up to eliminate shortness of breath.
So does weed help asthma? Cannabis contains compounds called cannabinoids that act on cannabinoid receptors throughout the body. CB2 receptors in the body play a role in pain and inflammation regulation, and CB1 receptors play an important role in muscle tone and spasm control. Since the body’s natural process is to produce mucus to trap foreign invaders in the throat to stop them from reaching the lungs, incorporating THC and CBD has the potential to decrease mucus production in the lungs, lower the activity of inflammatory cells, relax the lung muscles and ultimately reduce the symptoms of asthma.
Is Smoking Weed The Only Way To Consume THC for Asthma Treatment?
Does smoking weed help asthma? Well, the heat of the smoke can actually trigger asthmatic symptoms and leave you feeling worse. Inhaling cannabis can exacerbate the respiratory system and lead to coughing, wheezing, increased phlegm production, and difficulty breathing.
Asthmatic patients already tend to have fragile respiratory tissue, so it is best to avoid smoking weed if you want to protect your throat, lungs, and airways from further irritation and inflammation. Strangely enough, vaping is believed to be comparatively a better alternative to smoking cannabis for those with asthma, but frankly the best options for cannabis inclined folks thought to help with asthma are edibles, oils, topicals, transdermal patches, or even CBD and THC infused beverages.
Best Strains For Asthma
The question veers from does weed help asthma to what are the best strains for asthma. Research indicates strains thought to relieve asthmatic symptoms include those with terpenes, which have anti-inflammatory properties, such as Limonene, Myrcene, Pinene, and Eucalyptol.
Pinene is a bronchodilator that has the potential to help widen air passageways. Strains high in pinene include Cookies and Cream, and Big Smooth. Eucalyptol is another beneficial terpene that can react to mucus membranes and loosen up music membranes, leaving you less stuffed up. It is possible that eucalyptol can reduce symptoms associated with asthma.
Harlequin is believed to be an excellent strain for those with asthma–it has low THC and somewhat higher CBD, low on psychoactivity and high in myrcene. Its relaxing effects can help open up airways and lower inflammation. Royal Medic, which contains 10% THC and 12% CBD, is also believed to be useful in relieving asthmatic symptoms such as inflammation. It also helps with focus and doesn’t have much psychoactive effects.
Is Sativa or Indica Better for Asthma?
Does weed help with asthma–it has the potential to improve symptoms. But what strains are better for asthma–sativa and indica? Given that many indica or indica–dominant hybrids contain anti-inflammatory properties, some might argue that indica is a preferred choice. Strains that contain high CBD are also the preferred choice as their anti-inflammatory properties have the potential to reduce mucosal production.
Can Weed Trigger Asthma?
An average of 10 Americans die from an asthma attack every single day, which is why it is very important to take precautions when engaging in activities or being exposed to things–such as smoking weed–that have the potential to worsen asthma. Does weed help asthma? It has the potential to. Can weed trigger asthma? It also has the potential to. It is always best to consult with a medical professional before trying a new treatment.
If I Have Asthma, Should I Stop Smoking Cannabis?
It is highly advised to transition out of smoking cannabis and opt for edibles, oils, tinctures–anything but inhaling smoke. The heat from the smoke can increase a cough, causing one to wheeze, struggle breathing, and experience chest tightness. Studies have found smoking can trigger an asthma attack, and 1/3rd of cannabis users with asthma developed a cough after smoking. It may be a quick fix and open up the airways, but, again, it’s best to consult with a medical professional to figure out what’s the best option for you in treating your asthma.
How to Purchase Marijuana
Whether you are experiencing inflammation, congestion, want to get a little buzz going, can’t get to sleep, or need something to help put you in a state of calm, SWC Arizona is the ideal dispensary in Arizona to shop at. They offer a wide array of edibles, tinctures, liquid beverages, prerolls, and flowers, varying in percentages of CBD, THC, CBN, and other ingredients. There’s truly something at their store for everyone! A knowledgeable budtender is eagerly awaiting you, happy to assist you in finding the right products for your individualized needs.
Key Takeaways on Weed and Asthma
So, how does weed help with asthma?
- Asthmatic symptoms include cough, dryness, often with phlegm, breathlessness, excess mucus production, and lung muscle spasms.
- Weed has the potential to help with asthma flare ups as it certain strains contain anti-inflammatory properties
- Some specific strains of cannabis have certain terpenes that are thought to provide asthma relief. These are considered bronchodilators and they help improve airflow, though it is subtle and temporary.
- Some doctors advise to avoid inhaling cannabis if you are experiencing any unpleasant respiratory issues
- Products with high in CBD, which contains anti-inflammatory properties, may help with decreasing excess music production
- One of the fundamental building blocks of asthma is inflammation, and CBD contains anti-inflammatory properties that may have potential to decrease mucus production and ease breathing
If it feels like you’re not able to catch your breath and are having difficulty with conventional asthma medications, it is also important to consider your lifestyle, as lifestyle habits and behaviors play a significant role in asthma. Booking an appointment with a medical professional is the first step we recommend to see what areas related to asthma might be malleable on your end, and what symptoms might need the help of a medicine, such as marijuana. We wish you the best and hope you are able to keep your asthmatic symptoms at bay!
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