Cannabis use is growing thanks to the plant’s various therapeutic uses. THC, one of the active cannabinoids in cannabis, is commonly used for pain relief because it binds to the cannabis receptors that control pain impulses and slow them down.

However, there are health concerns associated with cannabis use as well. One study into the adverse impact of marijuana on human health concluded that growing cannabis use could “exacerbate cardiopulmonary disease and malignancy in the future.”

In contrast, anotherobservational study found that “frequent cannabis smoking may significantly increase a person’s risk for heart attack and stroke.” Many of the health issues associated with cannabis consumption are associated with smoking cannabis.

 However, there are many alternative ways to consume it if you are looking to improve lung health and still enjoy the therapeutic benefits of cannabis. 

Understanding the Impact of Smoking on Lung Health

Due to the therapeutic benefits of cannabis, people sometimes forget about the potential harm it can cause to the human body. One survey found that “US adults have a more favorable view of the safety of primary and secondhand cannabis smoke exposure than tobacco smoke exposure.”

However, there is evidence to suggest that smoking cannabis can be just as bad as smoking regular cigarettes, if not worse, by producing particulate matter, especially when joints are made using tobacco and cannabis, asthis study found.

This particulate matter is caused by combustion or burning something, which creates byproducts that include tar, carbon monoxide, acetaldehyde, ammonia, arsenic, and more. 

Onestudy found that smoking a joint can be the equivalent of “smoking 2.5–5 tobacco cigarettes in terms of airflow obstruction and hyperinflation” because joints are often smoked without a filter and with more extended inhalation.

Smoking cannabis can lead to problems like chronic bronchitis, coughing, and phlegm buildup. However, further research is needed to see if consuming cannabis, especially in large amounts, leads to severe lung problems like cancer.

Astudy into cannabis use disorder and the lungs suggests that “an association between cannabis and lung cancer remains unproven, with studies providing conflicting findings.” However, another study found that “lifetime cannabis use may be associated with impairment of gas transfer,” which could lead to severe problems over time. 

The way you consume cannabis can alter the adverse effects it has on lung health. While bongs will filter out some of the bad stuff in the water, you’re simultaneously taking a large amount of smoke to the lungs.

On the other hand, joints will be slightly better than blunts as more toxins enter the body with blunts due to the papers used. Vapes, on the other hand, do not use combustion to create vapor. Instead, the coil heats vape liquid to produce vapor, which means toxins are not a problem in the same way. 

Healthy Smoking Habits for Stoners

There are ways in which you can give your lungs a break but continue to consume cannabis. Hitting a bong multiple times a night or smoking a few joints or blunts each day is going to negatively impact your health in many ways beyond just lung damage. Instead, you can switch to a vape and hit it less or try edibles for occasional use.

Bringing your tolerance down through moderation will save money and help maintain better lung health.To reduce the harmful particles that get to your lungs, try cleaning your bongs, pipes, and vaporizers regularly for a cleaner hit, which also helps the device last longer. Additionally, you could use filters and screens to reduce particle intake further. 

When you inhale cannabis into the lungs, THC and other cannabinoids are absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs. If you’re somebody who takes big hits or holds it, it might be time to reconsider how you’re consuming cannabis, especially as there is no evidence to suggest that keeping smoke in the lungs for longer gets you more stoned. “With deeper inhalation, cannabis users are at a higher risk of developing COPD and experiencing a more rapid decline in pulmonary function,” foundone study. 

Alternative Consumption Methods

Vaping cannabis, like vaping nicotine, is more discreet and convenient than smoking and is also considered to be a healthier alternative. While more evidence is needed, studies have so far indicated the benefits of vaporizing cannabis instead of smoking it for lung health.

The Canadian Journal of Public Health concluded in one study that “compared with smoking, vaping cannabis can reduce exposure to several toxins, CO, and chronic respiratory symptoms while producing similar subjective effects, and hence might have the potential of harm reduction among habitual cannabis smokers.” Choosing a high-quality vaporizer like Vessel’s sleek and stylishCompass Rise Crimson is essential to get the healthiest hit. 

Buy the Compass Rise Crimson from Vessel

If you’d like to change the way you consume cannabis completely, you may prefer to switch to a non-smoking method like edibles or tinctures, which will not impact the lungs. Remember, eating cannabis will take longer for the effects to set in than vaporizing or smoking it, so be sure to wait before consuming more. There are also topicals and patches available that absorb through the skin instead. 

Supporting Your Lung Health After Smoking

In addition to adapting the way you consume cannabis, there are plenty of ways to take care of your lungs between smoking sessions. 

1. Stay hydrated:While it’s a good rule of thumb to stay hydrated in general, consuming enough water is good for the lungs as it can help clear mucus from the lungs and soothe the airways. 

2. Breathing exercises:Practice makes perfect, and that includes breathing. You can increase your lung capacity and efficiency by starting a practice of mindful and deep breathing. This will also help keep you calm, and you may realize you don’t need as much cannabis as you thought to stay calm. 

3. Regular exercise:Like staying hydrated, exercise is an obvious way to keep the body healthy. However, focusing specifically on cardio can help increase lung capacity and promote respiratory strength when you smoke. 

4. Diet:A healthy and balanced diet includes things that help different parts of the body. In the case of the lungs, you’re looking for foods that contain vitamin C, like citrus fruits, carotenoids found in food like sweet potatoes, and quercetin in apples. 

Routine Care and Detoxing for Your Lungs

Additional ways to care for your lungs after heavy use include detoxing with lots of water, drinking herbal teas, or even using steam inhalation to provide moisture to the lungs.

Look out for symptoms like a chronic cough, wheezing, and general shortness of breath, especially if you are a heavy cannabis user. If these problems persist, seek medical advice from a professional and ask them to check your lungs for damage. 

General Health Tips for Stoners

People who consume cannabis can limit other environmental pollutants that may also harm lung health. If you smoke indoors, switch to outside use and keep the places you hang out the most smoke-free to avoid constant inhalation and toxins in the air.

Don’t ignore signs from your body that suggest you need to adapt the way you are consuming cannabis. Heavy users should practice improving lung health through exercises and diet but also have regular lung assessments by professionals. 

Conclusion

Smoking cannabis can be harmful to lung health. Look into alternative methods of consuming cannabis if your body is telling you that smoking is causing harm. You can also work on improving your lung health by exercising, changing your diet, and more. If you cut down on the amount of cannabis you are using, you’ll still be able to feel the effects but will save money and improve your health at the same time.