CBD for Asthma: A Better Solution?

Christine Bell • January 31, 2019 • About CBD, Conditions

On a good day, you can breathe freely. On a bad one, it can feel as if you’re “breathing through a straw,” “suffocating,” “choking,” or even “drowning.” More than once, we came across posts from people who, in the throes of a severe attack, felt like they were dying. The struggle for breath is very real for the more than 26 million people in the U.S. suffering from this chronic and sometimes terrifying disease. Today, we’re going to go over the pros and cons of using CBD for asthma.

CBD for asthma at a glance

What the claims are: CBD can help relieve the symptoms of asthma, including inflammation of lungs and mucus hypersecretion. CBD can also help manage the stress and anxiety that can come along with having an attack.

What the studies show: Studies support the theory that CBD for asthma can mitigate inflammation of the lungs as well as help suppress mucus hypersecretion.

What the fact say: Early studies, as well as anecdotal evidence, appear to support that adopting a CBD for asthma regimen is beneficial for many people struggling with this condition. It can also help with anxiety, which is both a known trigger for asthma attacks, as well a potential result of asthma due to the stress of feeling short of breath.

What exactly is asthma?

Merriam Webster defines asthma as a lung disorder that is marked by recurring episodes of airway obstruction manifested by labored breathing accompanied especially by wheezing and coughing and by a sense of constriction in the chest that is triggered by hyperreactivity to various stimuli (such as allergens or rapid change in air temperature).

This hyperactivity makes those with asthma especially sensitive to things that we are exposed to in the environment every day, such as smoke, dust, pet dander and more.

When a trigger is breathed in, it causes the airways to swell even more, constricting the available space for air to move in and out of the lungs. Other triggers include exercise, cold weather, strong emotions, stress, and anxiety.

Asthma can affect anyone at any age, but affects adult women more than adult men. While it is considered a chronic condition, some people who have it as children have found that their symptoms go away in adulthood. Most people with asthma manage a combination of shortness of breath, chest tightness or pain, wheezing, and difficulty sleeping (due to shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing) all to varying degrees, depending on the person and the severity of the attack.

Risk factors for asthma include family history; being overweight; exposure to secondhand smoke, exhaust fumes, or other pollutants; and having other allergies. More than 1 in 13 people have asthma, and those numbers have been increasing since 2008, resulting in about 14 million missed school days, and more than 1.8 million E.R. visits.

How can CBD be used to help with asthma?

The amazing thing about CBD is that it has many uses that have been supported by science as well as by researching the stories of people utilizing it to manage their various health issues. Due to its “blanket effect,” CBD can offer relief to those suffering with asthma in several different ways.

FIrst, CBD seems to have the ability to slow the overproduction of mucus. Once on a CBD for asthma regimen, people sometimes find relief from that “junky” or “thick” feeling in their chest that often occurs in the aftermath of or during an attack.

CBD for asthma can also help lessen inflammation of the lungs, resulting in a less tight, constricting sensation and, hopefully, fewer emergency room visits! And, lastly, CBD might also help you sleep when those symptoms are keeping you up at night.

More on medical studies related to CBD for asthma…

It also bears mentioned that studies have shown cannabinoids to be “immunomodulators,” which means they help regulate our immune systems. While asthma isn’t considered an autoimmune disease, there are recent early studies that suggest the disease may have an autoimmune basis. In addition to the more conclusive studies with regard to CBD for asthma, this means there may be other, long term benefits that have yet to be fully explored.

What are the risks of using CBD for asthma?

In comparison to many of the common treatments for asthma, CBD seems to be an excellent and safe option. While minor side effects can result from CBD, it is typically very well tolerated and, according to a recent study by the World Health Organization, is not associated with abuse potential at apotheca.org cbd dips.

Whereas, with corticosteroids often used to help treat lung inflammation due to asthma, there are many potential risks, including:

Fever
Acne
Hair growth
A round/moon-shaped face
Weight gain
Fluid retention
Fragile skin
Suppressed growth in children
Sleeplessness
Irritability
Mood Swings
Depression

Long-term steroid use also increases your risk of infection.

Should I give CBD for asthma a try?

While it may not be a replacement for fast-acting inhalers, there is good anecdotal evidence to support that adopting a CBD for asthma regimen could help lessen the frequency and severity of attacks and mitigate some potential triggers.

No two people are the same, and we’ve also seen stories from others who really didn’t see a change in their asthma symptoms at all. We’re still awaiting more thorough studies to give us a definitive answer on CBD for asthma. In the mean time, talk to your healthcare provider and see if he or she can help determine if CBD for asthma might be right for you.