Understanding Asthma

Asthma is a long term lung condition of the airways i.e. the passage that transports air into our lungs and while there is no cure for it, there are medicines that can control it. Asthma can affect people differently, some develop it at a young age and some as adults. Symptoms vary as some go through it for a short term and some have it for a longer term. People suffering from Asthma have sensitive airways, these airways become inflamed when they are exposed to triggers. When the airways become inflamed, the narrowing airways causes significant, persistent and troublesome symptoms which cause breathing difficulties. 

What are the symptoms?

1. Chest pain or tightening of the chest
2. Persistent cough
3. High pitch wheezing
4. Difficulty in breathing

Types of Asthma 

1. Allergic asthma is caused by dust, food items, pollen and mould.
2. Non-allergic asthma is caused by viruses, cleaning products, perfumes and air particles from smoke.
3. Nocturnal asthma symptoms worsen at night due to the sleep cycle, heartburn or dust mites.
4. Occupational asthma is caused by workplace triggers like chemicals, animal proteins, fumes etc. 
5. Exercise-induced asthma is caused due to physical activities. 

Medicinal CBD for Asthma 

While medical marijuana is known to treat many health conditions, there has been a growing interest in the use to treat asthma. Medical marijuana can be referred to as the whole plant or an active ingredient taken from the plant and turned into medication.

While many use marijuana for recreational purposes, smoking a joint will have a negative impact on the lungs for patients suffering from asthma. Smoking and vaping are common ways to take marijuana, while vaping is known to be less harmful to the lungs, smoking can be dangerous especially for asthma patients as it can cause an asthma attack and increase the risk of asthma and allergies. If one continues smoking during an asthma attack, the smoke could irritate the lungs, cause more coughing and increase health risks. Some side effects may include: mood swings, difficulty remembering, thinking and reasoning and reduced coordination. Patients can also face complications like chronic cough, hoarse voice, tightness in the chest and increased sputum.

Edibles can be a good way to consume marijuana to treat asthma. However, it is always best to consult your doctor before using marijuana as medication.

What are the benefits of marijuana?

Marijuana contains active substances like tetrahydrocannabinoil (THC) and cannabinoids (CBD). CBD does not contain psychoactive ingredients unlike THC. both have various health benefits and is widely used to treat health conditions like:

• Cancer
• Chronic Pain
• Depression
• PTSD
• ADHD
• Autism 
• Multiple Sclerosis 

Australia has approved the use of medicinal marijuana but one must follow a procedure to acquire it. 

A finding published in 2015 suggests that CBD might be beneficial for people suffering from asthma due to its anti-inflammatory action. While there is not enough evidence, there might be effects that might reduce symptoms. 

Conclusion

While there are some studies that show consuming medical marijuana reduces symptoms, there is still a lot of research needed to prove that it is completely right. Anyone who wishes to use must first consult your doctor.

External Links:

https://asthma.org.au/about-asthma/understanding-asthma/asthma/ 

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321748#the-bottom-line