The American Lung Association Links COPD to be the third leading cause of death in the US.
What is COPD… Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is the progressing inflammation of lung disease that obstructs the air flow into the lungs — therefore making it hard to breathe. COPD is also in association with the development of asthma, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, and Emphysema.
When you have less of air flow in the airways, there is a lack of elasticity, and therefore more mucus is created thus causing clogging. Chronic bronchitis is what happens when the walls of the bronchial tubes because they think and inflamed, CBD helps with the reduction of inflammation. As to where in Emphysema, the walls which lay between the air sacs can be destroyed, therefore reducing airflow as well.
Causes of COPD are; cigarette smoke, second-hand smoke, air pollution, and exposure to dust and smoke. You can see the effects doing the following activities; walking, cooking, etc. simple task becomes more laborious.
Symptoms with COPD are; coughing large amounts of mucus, shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness. COPD usually found among middle-aged to older adults.
When having COPD, your risk for respiratory infections, heart problems, lung problems, lung cancer, high blood pressure, and depression are increased.
Findings: Effects of Cannabinoids and CBD on COPD
There can be a therapeutic beneficiary when using CBD, through many studies, CBD has been proven to help reduce inflammation and assisting in the inflamed airways to those with Chronic Bronchitis.
When CBD interacts with the CB1 & CB2 receptors, it is shown to reduce inflammation, among helping to create/maintain the homeostasis within the body. This activation of the receptors will help to reduce the airway inflammation. CBD also gives a potent anti-inflammatory agent in improving the lung function, even to a therapeutic level as a tool to treat many lung diseases.
Other research found is that cannabinoids found from cannabis can have amazing bronchodilators effects. Thus reducing the resistance in the respiratory airway and increasing airflow into the lungs. It can also be noted, that when CBD works with the CB1 receptor inhibits the contraction of the smooth muscle surrounding the lungs to dilate the bronchial tubes to open up more in the airways.
PLEASE NOTE: Smoking Cannabis can increase the acute and chronic bronchitis and irritate the lungs. It is especially heaving smoking, which can leave more obstruction. Instead, stick to other methods such as oils and edibles.
Recent Studies on Cannabinoids and CBD’s Effect on COPD
CBD has a potent anti-inflammatory effect and also improves lung function, suggesting it could be a useful therapeutic tool for the treatment of inflammatory lung diseases.
Cannabidiol improves lung function and inflammation in mice submitted to LPS-induced acute lung injury.
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25356537)
Cannabis has shown to be useful for treating inflammation.
Cannabinoids, endocannabinoids, and related analogs in inflammation.
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2664885/)
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