How CBD Can Help Relieve Symptoms Of COPD
Have you tried CBD? CBD is short for cannabidiol, according to Mayo Clinic, and is most known for being an ingredient in marijuana. You've most likely heard of CBD over the past few years as it has gained popularity for various different reasons. If it is new to you, you've probably also discovered many things you didn't know you could use CBD for. Folks consume CBD in many different forms, from pills to drops and even cooked into certain foods or brewed into coffee (via WebMD).
CBD-users reap myriad medical benefits, from using CBD to help with depression to taking CBD to sleep better and lots of other things in between. Among these many exciting and life-changing benefits, you may be surprised to find out what CBD can do for folks who are living with COPD. If you or someone you know has COPD, finding a way to fit CBD into your daily routine could be a game-changer for how you deal with your illness.
What is COPD
COPD is an acronym for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (via Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). While you may not be familiar with COPD, you've probably heard of the diseases that fall under the COPD category, which include pulmonary emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and asthma, according to Stanford Healthcare.
According to the American Lung Association, 16 million Americans reported that they had COPD in 2018. While there currently isn't a way to "cure" the diseases that make up COPD, according to the National Health Service, that doesn't mean that folks who live with this disease don't have options to help them with their symptoms. From taking bronchodilators that help to open up blocked air passages to inhalers or oxygen therapy that makes breathing easier, there are plenty of ways to ease the symptoms of COPD (via WebMD). As is true for many chronic illnesses, there are also alternative ways to help with symptoms, like quitting smoking and maintaining a healthy diet, as well as preventing other forms of illness that could exacerbate symptoms by making sure to stay away from germs and getting your flu shot.
How CBD can help
Another possible alternative way to manage COPD symptoms? Taking CBD. Research has shown that smoking marijuana opens air passages (via WebMD). Of course, smoking anything isn't good for your lungs long-term. Consuming CBD in a way that doesn't require smoking, on the other hand, could give your lungs the best of both worlds.
COPD causes inflammation in your lungs, and another helpful side effect of CBD is that it eases inflammation. Studies show that CBD acts as an anti-inflammatory for inflamed lungs. Despite the conclusions that can be drawn from these benefits, research has yet to prove that CBD is a solution for COPD symptoms. Even so, there have been small trials that suggest positive findings are on the horizon (via Healthline).
As of now, though, professional opinions are mixed. Pulmonologist Andrew Martin, MD told WebMD that he believes that there's not a high likelihood that CBD will help with COPD symptoms, but it's not likely to make them worse, either. Martin says, "If taking CBD makes you feel better and decreases your anxiety, use the edible version." So, the jury's still out as to whether folks living with COPD can ease their symptoms by using CBD. However, in the meantime, CBD has plenty of benefits that still may make your life easier.