Subscriptions - Maximum Yield Cannabis USA September/October 2020 | Page 94
If you are
concerned about
the long-term health
of your lungs, it is
best to choose another
route of administration.”
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR A NURSE?
Email [email protected] to get an answer.
ask a
NURSE
by Eloise Theisen, AGPCNP-BC
Q
Hi. I recently recovered from COVID-19. It was pretty scary, and I don’t know if having it leads
to permanent lung damage. I’m in my early 20s. I was smoking marijuana before, but should I
maybe switch to edibles to be safe?
— Janice P.
a
Great question. There have been concerns around
COVID and whether or not inhaling cannabis puts
one at greater risk of infection or possible lung damage.
Here are some of the issues that have been raised with
smoking cannabis and COVID:
• Cannabis smoke causes inflammation
• Confounding variables can confuse diagnosis
• Patients with a history of lung disease and asthma are
at risk of developing severe COVID symptoms
• Cannabis can cause impairment making it more difficult
to provide informed consent if you become sick
Additionally, some people have questioned whether
the higher numbers of younger people contracting
COVID is somehow related to vaping and cannabis
use. A few health experts speculated that vaping
could spread the virus to others through vape clouds.
Fortunately, Professor Neil Benowitz at UCSF declared
that “it is my understanding that exhaled e-cigarette
vapor consists of very small particles of water,
propylene glycol and glycerin, and flavor chemicals,
not droplets of saliva. The vaping aerosol evaporates
very quickly, while particles that are emitted when
coughing or sneezing are large particles that persist
in the air for a relatively long period of time. Thus,
I would not think that vapers present any risk of
spreading COVID-19, unless they are coughing when
they exhale the vapor.”
It is less understood at this time how COVID will affect
lung health after one has recovered from the virus.
Inhalation of cannabis has been associated with airway
inflammation and bronchitis in chronic users. And
inhalation of anything is an irritant and can cause one to
cough, thereby irritating the lungs even more. If you are
concerned about the long-term health of your lungs, it is
best to choose another route of administration.
Edibles and/or tinctures can provide relief without the
risk associated with inhalation. Many people who have
only used cannabis through inhalation are not aware
of the stronger effects associated with ingesting cannabis.
It is important to start low and slow with an edible
and/or tincture. Do not repeat a dose for at least two
hours so you can determine if the dose was effective or
not. As always, if you are looking to treat a serious or
chronic illness, please work with a qualified cannabis
healthcare professional who can help you determine
the right dose and the right cannabinoid profile.
ET
Eloise Theisen, AGPCNP-BC, is a dedicated and patient-focused nurse. For more than 17 years, she has specialized
in aging, cancer, chronic pain, dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, and various
autoimmune and neurological diseases.
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