Changing perceptions regarding the health risks and wider-spread permissive legislation have given rise to an increase in the use of inhaled marijuana in the general public. This inhaled use is both by combustible forms such as joints, pipes, and bongs but also by electronically generated aerosols from vaping devices. The smoke from combustible marijuana contains respiratory irritants and other toxic substances similar to those seen in tobacco smoke. Aerosols from vaping devices also contain a variety of potentially toxic substances from the compounds added to the vape liquid such as propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavorings, and other additives. Not surprisingly, there is concern over the effect inhaled marijuana may have on the airways of patients with asthma as well as others.
The airways of patients with asthma, as I have described before, are hyperreactive and prone to rapid constriction leading to consequences up to and including emergency room visits and death. Not only is there risk of exacerbating an underlying asthmatic condition but some data has suggested that there is a significant association between inhaled marijuana use and the development of asthma.
Recent studies have been examining the use of combustible marijuana but also included the use of vaping devices, as well, in the frequency of asthma attacks and between these two groups. Currently, similar harm is seen in both of these groups i.e., both groups have an increased occurrence of asthma attacks while using marijuana and continued increases in attacks after discontinuation of their marijuana habit.
