CBD is currently gaining momentum as a viable alternative to traditional cigarettes. Much research has been done on how tobacco smoke has negative effects on the lungs and your overall health.
According to reports, burning tobacco produces more than 4,000 chemicals, including nicotine, carbon monoxide, tar, acrolein, etc. Most of these chemicals are known to transform normal cells into cancer cells.
On the other hand, CBD has been proven to be more than a healthier substitute for tobacco smoking. It also helps individuals who want to quit smoking by regulating the endocannabinoid system.
The Effects of Cigarette Smoking on Your Lungs
Smoking cigarettes has a plethora of adverse effects on your health, mostly noticed within the lungs and airways. Some of the changes you may see are sudden, lasting just a short time, such as colds and pneumonia. Other chronic changes may take time to be noticed, such as emphysema.
Some of the key impacts that smoking cigarettes have on our health are:
Gateway to Lung Cancer
The more you smoke tobacco cigarettes, the higher your risk of getting lung cancer. This is because it changes pre-cancer tissue to cancer. Statistics indicate that smoking causes about 90 percent of all lung cancer deaths.
You’re Prone to Infections
Smoking causes the cells that produce mucus in your lungs and airways to increase size and number. The mucus produced is more and thicker, making it difficult to be effectively cleaned by the lungs.
With the extra mucus, you are more prone to infections. When you smoke, your lungs also age faster and cannot protect you well from infections.
Smoking Causes Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD obstructs airflow into and out of the lungs. The major diseases of COPD include emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The condition is characterized by a long-lasting cough and mucus that blocks airflow.
Other key negative impacts that may result from habitual tobacco smoking include:
- Heart diseases: Smoking cigarettes can damage the heart, blood vessels, and blood cells.
- Fertility problems: Cigarettes have been associated with damaging a female’s reproductive system. Furthermore, it can damage sperm quality, therefore causing fertility problems. Erectile dysfunction is yet another major impact of prolonged smoking.
- Risk of pregnancy complications
- Risk of type 2 diabetes
- Vision problems
How Your Body Becomes Addicted to Nicotine
When you smoke, your body absorbs nicotine and other chemicals from cigarette smoke.
Nicotine stimulates your nervous system to release hormones and neurotransmitters that affect different parts of your body. For example, Epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, is one hormone that nicotine affects.
Nicotine also stimulates the release of the hormone dopamine that activates the part of your brain that makes you feel good. Dopamine gives you pleasurable sensations such as a buzz, relaxation, and relief of tension. These effects are, however, temporary so that you will reach for another cigarette.
The brain correlates smoking with the resultant release of dopamine, a neurochemical reward.
You may feel irritated when the effects wear off.
The more you smoke, the more nicotine you will need to feel good. Repeated use increases the risk of addiction. You become dependent on smoking and experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop.
Can CBD be Used Effectively as Part of a Solution to Quit Smoking?
Cannabidiol has benefits, including potentially helping people quit cigarette smoking. Here is what to know about CBD use in quitting cigarette smoking.
1. CBD Neutralizes Cigarette Cues
When you are addicted to smoking, the environment and the emotional and cellular memory can trigger you. CBD can help break the chain of learned memories and reinforced behaviors. In addition, it can help you manage the urge to reach for a cigarette when you are triggered.
A 2018 study found that a single 800mg dose of CBD helped reduce the pleasantness of tobacco cues. The smokers were shown pictorial tobacco cues such as people smoking and were checked for blood pressure, cravings and withdrawal.
CBD can therefore be used to quit smoking. Another study found that CBD disrupted the memories and environmental simulations that prompted smokers to have difficulties quitting smoking.
2. It Helps Combat Nicotine Withdrawal.
In the process of quitting cigarette smoking, the serotonin levels in your brain go down. The low levels of serotonin decrease your energy and make you feel depressed. Cannabidiol activates the 5-HT1A receptor in the brain, which increases the availability of serotonin.
In this way, CBD may reduce the stress and irritability associated with attempting to quit cigarettes. Stress and anxiety can cause relapses. CBD may also help combat the physical symptoms of quitting cigarettes, such as headaches.
3. CBD Reduces Cigarette Consumption
CBD has been shown to minimize the pleasure of smoking cigarettes. If you take CBD, you won’t feel any pleasure from consuming nicotine.
In addition, CBD can reduce symptoms associated with addiction, such as impulsive behavior and specific drug-seeking behaviors. According to a 2013 study, individuals addicted to tobacco reduced smoking by 40 percent while taking CBD.
4. It Reduces Nicotine Cravings.
CBD can help you reduce your nicotine cravings when you are trying to quit cigarette smoking. It can help reduce cigarette intake by inhibiting the enzyme FAAH which reduces the boosting properties of nicotine.
Furthermore, it also acts as a weak agonist on CB1 receptors in the endocannabinoid system.
Why Using CBD is Better than Regular Cigarettes.
Now that you’re aware of CBD’s potential benefits in countering nicotine addiction, let’s now look at some of the reasons why they are better than cigarettes.
CBD Is Not Addictive
Nicotine is highly addictive and induces chemical dependence, rewiring your brain to depend on it.
Using CBD as a cigarette alternative is not addictive, does not generate any psychological or chemical dependency, and does not alter your brain function.
It Contains Safe Ingredients
Unlike cigarettes which contain dangerous additives that can harm your health, CBD is organic and does not contain any added ingredients.
It Has Better or No Smell
Smoking cigarettes produces an odor that can stick to your clothes, house, or car. Walking around with a pungent smell can affect your social interactions. CBD does not have a strong odor, and some strains even have a pleasing aroma. You can also use CBD discretely, unlike cigarette smoking.
CBD Has Health Benefits
CBD improves your immune system, which may have been compromised by smoking. CBD reduces the risks of cancer and infections. Besides physical health benefits, CBD can also calm you and give you positive feelings to help you cope with the emotional pressure of quitting smoking.
How to Use CBD to Quit Smoking
CBD is a non-intoxicating compound of cannabis. There are several ways you can consume CBD, including vaping, edibles, tinctures, and capsules.
Many smokers prefer vaping CBD as it mimics the smoking action. The CBD is also absorbed directly into the bloodstream for fast results, which curbs nicotine cravings.
There is no fixed recommended dosage for CBD to quit smoking. Instead, you can use it as often as you feel. CBD has little to no side effects. However, it would be prudent to start off on a low dosage as a beginner and gradually increase with time.
As we can now attest, CBD is a viable alternative to cigarette smoking. Not only will it give you satisfaction, but it also has numerous health benefits too. If you’re an ardent tobacco smoker looking to quit, using CBD is your best shot.
You can easily fight off tobacco cravings too, with CBD. It is quite evident that this is a better alternative to cigarettes and promotes a healthier lifestyle. However, it is crucial to ensure that you only purchase CBD products from trusted and reliable CBD vendors.