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Joanna Zeiger, Ph.D., the study’s principal investigator, says she was surprised that more than half of patients currently with asthma smoke cannabis. But Zeiger may have been even more surprised that the percentage does fall appreciably, remaining at about half, for those who report having uncontrolled asthma.
Additionally, about a third of respondents reported they vape weed. Smoking and vaping are both “inhalation routes likely to affect one’s lungs,” the college notes.
Why would people with asthma smoke or vape cannabis? Survey findings indicate that 65.9 per cent of the group said they did so for medical or medical/recreational purposes.
Patients who consumed cannabis reported positive effects — such as reduced pain, calm and improved sleep — significantly more often than adverse effects, including cough, increased appetite and anxiety, according to the college.
But responses did reveal concerns, including that 19.3 per cent of weed-using respondents “reported coughing from cannabis, which was significantly related to smoking the cannabis,” the statement adds.
“Short-term use of cannabis can act as a bronchodilator or cause coughing or wheezing, whereas long-term use could cause increased respiratory symptoms,” notes the study. “Particularly detrimental in asthmatics, cannabis smoking’s effect on the lungs may be similar to that of tobacco smoking and persistent cannabis smoking may lead to peripheral airway resistance.”
Additionally, “cannabis use among allergic individuals may increase risk for cannabis allergy,” the study states. Of the non-cannabis users taking part in the poll, 2.5 per cent were allergic to weed.
Despite more U.S. states looking to legalize medicinal or recreational marijuana, doctors are not routinely asking or advising patients “about cannabis and how they are consuming it,” Zeiger reports in the statement.
“Strikingly, among current cannabis users, only about 40 per cent report having their physicians inquire about cannabis use, and about the same number of patients want to discuss cannabis with their physicians,” adds allergist Dr. William Silvers, co-author of the study.
Specifically, just 40.9 per cent of physicians inquired about cannabis use and only 37.5 per cent wanted to discuss cannabis, study results show.
To better manage allergy/asthma patients, doctors need to learn more about cannabis themselves and also ask their patients more questions, Dr. Silvers advises. This includes getting feedback regarding the types of cannabinoid, route of use, reasons for use and adverse effects, he says.
Researchers do acknowledge that the study has limitations, pointing out that participants were recruited through a patient advocacy group, “which may not be generalizable to others with asthma and allergies.”
