Why does my side hurt or ache when I smoke from the bong? Causes and solutions

Cannabis is most commonly consumed through smoking, which is the inhalation of smoke produced when cannabis is burned. However, it is also the most harmful.

Cannabis smoke contains many of the same harmful poisons, irritants and carcinogens as tobacco smoke, including tar, carbon monoxide, ash, acetaldehyde, acrolein, etc.

Although a bong can have some potential benefits – it filters and cools the smoke for smoother hits, smoking through it can still result in a negative experience, such as: B. side pain.

If you experience side chest pain or pain from smoking weed from a bong. No panic. This is usually caused by a lung disease. We'll look at the various reasons and show you what you can do about it!

Find out what they are and how to relieve the side effects of smoking marijuana.

What are the benefits of using a bong to smoke cannabis?

While smoking is generally considered unhealthy, bongs are a much healthier alternative compared to joints and pipes because they filter out harmful chemicals and cool the smoke through water filtration.

As you light the herb in the bowl and inhale, smoke along the stem into the water. As the smoke bubbles through the water, it cools, filters and collects in the chamber above.

Bong water is very effective in reducing harmful substances in smoke. During water filtration, about 90% of the phenols, which are components of tar, and 50% of the solid particles (ash, resin, flower particles) are retained.

Bongs also reduce the presence of acrolein and acetaldehyde. Both acrolein and acetaldehyde are toxic to the primary defense cells of the lung: alveolar macrophages.

Inhaling hot smoke can irritate the respiratory tract and cause discomfort and coughing. Cold smoke, on the other hand, is much gentler on the lungs and ensures a more pleasant and less harsh bong zip.

Learn more: What is a bong? Advantages? Different types of bongs in brief

Why does the side of my chest hurt when smoking from a bong? Main causes

Although bongs provide excellent filtration, they do not eliminate all risks because the smoke still contains large amounts of toxins, including carbon monoxide, tiny, harmful particles, and carcinogens.

The gentle puffs could cause people to smoke more often or take larger puffs, which could lead to increased health risks over time.

Smoking cannabis affects almost every organ in your body, especially your lungs. Every time you smoke a cigarette, you damage your lungs and respiratory tract, preventing them from functioning properly.

Additionally, your lungs and airways are exposed to harmful, acute side effects, including annoying coughing and wheezing.

Other side effects are more serious and result in long-term changes to your lungs that occur slowly but last a lifetime.

The most dangerous, potentially fatal health problems caused by smoking include pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, pleurisy or pleurisy, COPD and lung cancer.

Very dirty bong water is a breeding ground for bacteria (like flavobacteria) and mold. If this causes you to inhale your weed smoke, these bacteria can lead to respiratory infections.

Another potential threat to people with weakened immune systems is Aspergillus, a fungus that lives on marijuana plants. Marijuana can be contaminated by mold and bacteria.

Aspergillus causes serious lung infections, especially in people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients or people taking immunosuppressive medications.

Smoked or inhaled marijuana is not recommended for people who are receiving chemotherapy or have an organ transplant or a weakened immune system.

What can cause side chest pain? Lung health and marijuana smoke

Pain on the left or right side of your chest often arises from a problem in your lungs.

Smoking marijuana clearly damages human lungs and increases the risk of disease.

Side chest pain can be severe. It may get worse if you breathe in or cough.

In addition to side chest pain, you may also have other symptoms such as tightness or difficulty breathing.

However, side chest pain when smoking does not usually come directly from the lungs. The lungs do not contain pain fibers.

For example, it could be an inflammation of the membrane that separates your lungs from the inner chest wall.

Medication helps treat many causes of right breast pain. However, some require treatment that includes surgery.

1. Increased mucus production in the chest

Smoking marijuana damages the lungs' first line of defense against infection by killing cells that help remove dust and germs and also causing more mucus to form.

As the amount of mucus increases and becomes thicker, your lungs can no longer clean it effectively, which clogs your airways.

2. Decreased airflow and asthma

Smoking can narrow the airways, which is particularly harmful to the lungs of asthmatics. Smoke is a common and powerful trigger for asthma.

Asthma is a long-term inflammatory condition that attacks your airways, causing coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.

3. Pneumonia

Smoking causes inflammation in the small airways and tissues of your lungs, leading to chest tightness. In addition to chest pain, fever, chills, and cough also occur.

This inflammation increases the more you smoke and can turn into scar tissue, causing physical changes in your airways and lungs.

Scar tissue makes it difficult to breathe and can cause a chronic, phlegmy cough.

4. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Smoking is the most common cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is also a trigger for COPD flare-ups. COPD blocks the flow of air in and out of your lungs, making it difficult to breathe.

Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are two forms of COPD and two other possible side effects of smoking.

With chronic bronchitis, you develop a long-lasting cough that produces excess mucus and effectively blocks your airflow.

Emphysema destroys your lung tissue over time, making it difficult to breathe and possibly leading to death.

5. Lung cancer

Lung cancer is the most serious possible side effect of smoking. The longer you smoke and the more cigarettes you smoke, the greater your risk of developing lung cancer.

The most common symptoms of lung cancer include a long-lasting and worsening cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, wheezing, and chronic and recurrent infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis.

Chest pain from lung cancer gets worse when you cough, laugh, or take deep breaths.

What to do if you have side pain or pain when smoking from a bong? 5 best solutions

There are minor causes of side effects when smoking marijuana from a bong, while it may be related to more serious problems that require medical attention. Fortunately, there are various solutions for this.

1. Get treatment

If you experience chest pain or discomfort after vaping cannabis, it is important to speak to a doctor. They can help determine the cause of your symptoms and recommend appropriate treatment.

If you've had a checkup and your lungs are fine, it's still a good idea to tell your doctor about your symptoms to rule out any underlying problems.

2. Quit smoking

People who quit smoking often find that their symptoms improve and sometimes disappear completely.

Once you quit smoking, your body begins to repair the damage caused by smoking over many years.

3. Switch to vaping or eating

If you want to consume cannabis for recreational or medical purposes, experts recommend considering another way to get it into your body.

Some alternatives, depending on your wants and needs, are THC sprays, capsules, dry herb vaporizers, oils (vaping through vapes), concentrates (dabbing through dab rigs or dab pens), and edibles like gummies.

For example, vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking. When vaping, users are exposed to much fewer toxins and in smaller quantities than when smoking cannabis.

4. Replace the bong

Sometimes the type of bong is the problem. A bong with more chambers and percolation points results in a smoother, less harsh hit.

You could add a second percolator or ash catcher device to your bong to increase percolation, or you could try a different downpipe with a better diffuser.

5. Clean the bong

A good rule of thumb is to change your bong's water after each use. Maximum after the second use.

Somewhat frequent users should clean their bong with rubbing alcohol and salt at least once a week or every two weeks to ensure a consistently enjoyable smoking experience.

Diploma

A bong can cool and filter smoke to give you a smoother hit that feels less harsh than what you get from a rolled joint, but it doesn't protect you from the health risks of smoking.

Smoking cannabis, even with a bong, can cause a range of symptoms, from coughing to chest pain. Although these symptoms are unpleasant, they are usually not a cause for concern and go away on their own.

However, it can sometimes cause serious lung disease, including a potentially life-threatening lung infection.

Don't suffer any side injuries or pain after lightly smoking cannabis. It is always recommended to see a doctor to find any underlying issues that could be the cause of your side hurting after smoking weed.

Ultimately, quitting smoking is one of the most important steps people can take to improve their health.