Why does my chest hurt after smoking? Is cannabis use associated with chest pain in young people? What are the potential cardiovascular effects of marijuana use?

Marijuana and Heart Health: What You Need to Know

Access to marijuana is growing, but the benefits and risks of marijuana use have not been carefully studied. Smoking is the fastest way to feel the effects of marijuana, which is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant. However, marijuana smoke contains many of the same toxins, irritants, and carcinogens found in cigarette smoke – a known contributor to heart disease and cancer.

Marijuana cultivation and use dates back some 6,000 years, but the cardiovascular and other health effects of cannabis are not well understood. This is partly because under federal law, cannabis is a Schedule I substance, meaning it has “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” This designation places numerous restrictions on researchers, making it difficult to carry out rigorous research on marijuana.

As a result, everything we’re told about what marijuana does or doesn’t do should be viewed with a certain amount of caution. This holds equally true for the risks as well as the benefits.

Pot and Pain

Some of the evidence supporting the medical use of marijuana is its benefits for managing chronic pain. Cannabinoid compounds (see “Cannabis 101”) interact with receptors in nerve cells to slow down pain impulses and ease discomfort. Cannabinoids have also been shown to be effective in quelling nausea and vomiting. In addition, marijuana is a powerful appetite inducer. The combination of these attributes makes marijuana a therapeutic option for people coping with the side effects of chemotherapy and others who have unintended weight loss. However, in conditions where gaining extra weight might exacerbate existing health problems, such as diabetes, appetite stimulation would be counterproductive.

Cardiovascular Effects

One of the few things scientists know for sure about marijuana and cardiovascular health is that people with established heart disease who are under stress develop chest pain more quickly if they have been smoking marijuana than they would have otherwise. This is because of complex effects cannabinoids have on the cardiovascular system, including raising resting heart rate, dilating blood vessels, and making the heart pump harder. Research suggests that the risk of heart attack is several times higher in the hour after smoking marijuana than it would be normally.

While this does not pose a significant threat to people who have minimal cardiovascular risk, it should be a red flag for anyone with a history of heart disease. Although the evidence is weaker, there are also links to a higher risk of atrial fibrillation or ischemic stroke immediately following marijuana use. Consistent with these links, studies also suggest that marijuana smoking may increase the long-term death rate among heart attack survivors.

Separating Smoke from Cannabinoid Effects

Most of the evidence linking marijuana to heart attack and stroke is based on reports from people who smoked it. So, it’s hard to separate the effects of cannabinoid compounds on the cardiovascular system from the hazards posed by the irritants and carcinogens contained in the smoke. Because cannabis smoke is known to cause airway inflammation, wheezing, and chest tightness, people with lung diseases should not smoke it. People with mental health disorders or at risk of addiction should carefully consider the potential harms prior to using marijuana.

Cannabis 101

The cannabis plant contains more than 100 unique chemical components classified as cannabinoids. These are the active ingredients that bind to specific receptors in the brain and other parts of the body. The two most prevalent types are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is primarily responsible for the mind-altering properties sought out by recreational users, and cannabidiol (CBD), which has no psychoactive effect.

The magnitude of marijuana’s psychoactive effect depends on the THC level in the particular strain of plant, which parts of the plant are used, and the route through which the drug enters the body. Legalization in many states has led to the breeding of strains that are three to seven times more potent than those available three decades ago.

The impact of smoked or inhaled marijuana is generally felt within a few minutes and lasts two to four hours. Marijuana ingested in food or beverages kicks in more slowly and lasts longer.

Why Does My Chest Hurt After Smoking?

When you quit smoking tobacco, withdrawal symptoms like chest pain or tightness are fairly common. However, the relationship between chest pain and cannabis use is more complex. While the cannabinoid compounds in marijuana can have direct effects on the cardiovascular system, the smoke itself can also contribute to chest discomfort, especially in those with underlying lung or heart conditions.

The potential cardiovascular risks of marijuana use, including an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and atrial fibrillation, appear to be most pronounced in the hours immediately following use. These risks may be higher for those with pre-existing heart disease. Additionally, the long-term effects of chronic marijuana use on cardiovascular health are not yet fully understood.

Overall, the available research suggests that while marijuana may provide some therapeutic benefits, particularly for pain management, its use is not without risks, especially for those with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions. Caution and close monitoring by a healthcare provider are advised for anyone considering using marijuana, particularly in a smoked form.

Marijuana and heart health: What you need to know

Access to marijuana is growing, but marijuana benefits and its  risks have not been carefully studied.

In many states in this country, you can legally use marijuana. Smoking is the fastest way to feel the effects of marijuana, which is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant. Yet marijuana smoke contains many of the same toxins, irritants, and carcinogens found in cigarette smoke — a known contributor to heart disease as well as cancer.

Marijuana cultivation and use dates back some 6,000 years. However, the cardiovascular and other health effects of cannabis aren’t well studied. That’s partly because under federal law, cannabis is a Schedule I substance, meaning it has “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” That designation places numerous restrictions on researchers, making it difficult to carry out rigorous research on marijuana.

As a result, everything we’re told about what marijuana does or doesn’t do should be viewed with a certain amount of caution. This holds equally true for the risks as well as the benefits.

Pot and pain

Some of the evidence supporting the medical use of marijuana is marijuana’s benefits for managing chronic pain. Cannabinoid compounds (see “Cannabis 101”) interact with receptors in nerve cells to slow down pain impulses and ease discomfort. Cannabinoids also have been shown to be effective in quelling nausea and vomiting. In addition, marijuana is a powerful appetite inducer. The combination of these attributes makes marijuana a therapeutic option for people coping with the side effects of chemotherapy and others who have unintended weight loss. However, in conditions where gaining extra weight might exacerbate existing health problems, such as diabetes, appetite stimulation would be counterproductive.

Cardiovascular effects

One of the few things scientists know for sure about marijuana and cardiovascular health is that people with established heart disease who are under stress develop chest pain more quickly if they have been smoking marijuana than they would have otherwise. This is because of complex effects cannabinoids have on the cardiovascular system, including raising resting heart rate, dilating blood vessels, and making the heart pump harder. Research suggests that the risk of heart attack is several times higher in the hour after smoking marijuana than it would be normally.

While this does not pose a significant threat to people who have minimal cardiovascular risk, it should be a red flag for anyone with a history of heart disease. Although the evidence is weaker, there are also links to a higher risk of atrial fibrillation or ischemic stroke immediately following marijuana use. Consistent with these links, studies also suggest that marijuana smoking may increase the long-term death rate among heart attack survivors.

Questions remain on marijuana’s benefits and risks

Most of the evidence linking marijuana to heart attack and stroke is based on reports from people who smoked it. So, it’s hard to separate the effects of cannabinoid compounds on the cardiovascular system from the hazards posed by the irritants and carcinogens contained in the smoke. Because cannabis smoke is known to cause airway inflammation, wheezing, and chest tightness, people with lung diseases should not smoke it. People with mental health disorders or at risk of addiction should carefully consider the potential harms prior to using marijuana.

Image: LEPETTET/Getty Images

Why It Happens, How Long It Lasts

When you quit smoking tobacco, withdrawal symptoms like chest pain or tightness are fairly common. This happens due to nicotine cravings, and the pain can range from mild to severe.

Since smoking can cause chest pain in the first place, you may be surprised to experience pain or tightness after you quit. But this is a fairly common withdrawal symptom that will resolve as your body continues to heal.

Despite the pain, there are many short- and long-term health benefits linked to quitting. Short-term withdrawal symptoms like irritation or issues sleeping are replaced with a host of benefits like a healthier heart, lower carbon monoxide levels in your blood, and better circulation.

Keep in mind that since chest pain can sometimes signal a heart attack, you should always seek emergency care if you have pain that’s sudden, severe, or persists for more than 15 minutes (more on this later).

Here’s what else to know about any chest pain you may experience when you quit.

A sudden lack of nicotine in your bloodstream can cause a host of side effects, including strong cravings, issues concentrating, and sometimes, chest pain.

When your body is accustomed to a steady dose of nicotine, a sudden lack of it can cause your body to act up. You might feel chest pain, tightness, and cough more than usual, for instance. This could be due to anxiety or stress.

Smoking regularly also congests your respiratory system. When you quit, your body begins to repair itself. This may cause increased mucus production as your body tries to expel the buildup in your lungs.

When you smoke regularly, the cells that line your blood vessels are almost always inflamed. When you stop, your body is so accustomed to the inflammation that it may become tight and tense in response to the change. This can cause pain, but it’s only temporary.

Withdrawal symptoms like chest pain can last for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, according to the National Cancer Institute. Symptoms tend to peak about 3 days after quitting and then gradually subside over the next 3 to 4 weeks.

Physiological symptoms like chest pain or tightness shouldn’t last long. Other symptoms, like anxiety or depression, may persist for longer.

Quitting smoking is a unique journey for everyone, so you won’t necessarily experience the same symptoms as someone else.

Some potential symptoms include:

• cravings to smoke
• moodiness or irritation
• anxiety
• difficulty sleeping
• difficulty concentrating
• appetite changes
• restlessness
• depression

If you haven’t already, you may want to talk with a healthcare professional about nicotine replacement therapy. This involves using nicotine gum, lozenges, patches, or other products to help manage withdrawal symptoms, including cravings.

Since anxiety may be a potential trigger for chest pain, easing stress may soothe some symptoms.

Some ideas include:

• engaging in light exercise you enjoy, like walking, dancing, or biking
• relaxing in a comfortable, peaceful environment
• doing breathing techniques, yoga, or meditation
• reducing your caffeine intake
• joining a support group for others quitting smoking
• avoiding triggers (like where you used to smoke)

Most of the time, chest pain after quitting smoking isn’t a cause for serious concern. But chest pain can occasionally signal a heart attack, regardless of whether you smoke.

Seek emergency care if you have any of the following symptoms:

• chest pain or discomfort that feels like a squeezing feeling or intense pressure
• pain that radiates from the chest to the shoulder, arms, neck, or jaw
• cold sweats
• nausea
• vomiting
• fatigue
• dizziness
• difficulty breathing
• symptoms that last for more than 15 minutes

Quitting smoking can cause many withdrawal symptoms, chest pain included. This is a temporary response as your body heals from the trauma of smoking.

If your chest pain is sudden, severe, or accompanied by other symptoms like pain radiating in your upper body, vomiting, or difficulty breathing, seek emergency care.

What to do if after smoking there is pain in the chest – Medical Portal

• How pathological processes develop in the lungs of a smoker
• Causes of pain in the chest after smoking
  • Cardiac pathologies
  • Inflammatory processes in the pleural cavity

  900 03 Lung cancer

• When to see a doctor

Many smokers with a decent experience believe that giving up a bad habit will completely restore their body and the negative consequences of smoking will “resolve” by themselves.

However, they are wrong. And this can be confirmed by those people who, after quitting smoking, live with shortness of breath and chest pain. And the reason is that the pathology that developed during smoking does not disappear, but makes itself felt even to those who quit smoking and set foot on the path of a healthy lifestyle.

How pathological processes develop in the lungs of a smoker

The vast majority of smokers are well aware that this addiction does not have the best effect on the functioning of the respiratory system. But not everyone knows by what signs to recognize this or that pathology in the early stages of its development.

Often after smoking one can observe bouts of strong, hysterical cough. It appears due to irritation of bronchial and alveolar cells, which are located on the surface of the respiratory tract, by cigarette smoke. At first, coughing fits are observed only in the process of smoking a cigarette and after it, and later coughing becomes an integral part of a smoker’s life.

Also read about the causes of pain in the chest and throat.

Why does the chest hurt when inhaling and exhaling? What makes breathing difficult?

Read about the causes of chest discomfort here.

One of the functions of bronchial cells is to remove small particles of dust and microbes from the respiratory tract. Especially for this, the cells have microscopic cilia, which all the time move in the direction from the lung to the mouth, which serves as a kind of outlet for the respiratory system.

In people who have a habit of smoking, the process of natural purification of the respiratory tract from foreign bodies is disturbed. As a result, the risk of various infections increases. Almost all smokers get chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This condition is characterized by the development of shortness of breath, as over time the walls of the bronchial tree thicken.

At first, shortness of breath appears only during exercise and disappears during rest; over time, a person needs a progressively smaller dose of physical activity for the appearance of shortness of breath.

Sometimes the disease develops without the appearance of shortness of breath, in which case the violation can be determined only during a special examination of respiratory function (PFR). A neglected pathology can lead to pulmonary emphysema (the process of merging several alveoli and loss of their main function) or pneumosclerosis (the process of replacing lung tissue with connective tissue).

Causes of pain in the chest after smoking

The chest after smoking hurts for two reasons: pulmonary and extrapulmonary. Pulmonary causes include damage to lung tissue from tobacco smoke, chronic bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, dysplasia, or lung cancer.

Extrapulmonary causes indicate pathologies of the cardiovascular system (ischemic heart disease (CHD), angina pectoris) or the gastrointestinal tract (gastric ulcer, chronic gastritis, cholelithiasis). In addition, pain in the chest area can be associated with joint pathology, myalgia.

Cardiac pathologies

After smoking, a person may develop transient ischemia, which causes pain in the chest area. Ischemia is characterized by permanent or temporary narrowing of the vessel, leading to anemia of the area that is fed by the ischemic vessel.

The vessels of the heart muscle respond to nicotine and substances, the formation of which is triggered after smoking, the so-called angiospasm. Angiospasm induces ischemia, as a result of which a person has pain in the chest.

If the patient already has certain cardiac pathologies caused by non-smoking, then after smoking the disease may worsen, the pain will become more frequent and sharper. As a result, the risk of getting a heart attack is greatly increased.

Inflammatory processes in the pleural cavity

After smoking or even completely giving up cigarettes, a person may feel pain in the sternum. This means that pathological processes have affected the pleura – the membrane lining the inner walls of the chest.

The pleural cavity may fill with fluid, which causes inflammation. This disease is called pleurisy and its main manifestation is pain in the lungs and dry cough.

Air can also accumulate in the pleural cavity (pneumothorax), and then a person experiences pain in the chest after smoking. Pneumothorax can be caused by pulmonary emphysema (often observed in experienced smokers), as a result of which part of the alveoli ruptures and air from them enters the pleural cavity.

Read about the causes of headache after hookah here.

Lung cancer

A person who quit smoking may experience pain in the chest area due to cancer in the lung that has spread to the pleura.

Many experts say that the lung itself does not have receptors, so a person does not feel pain as a result of the pathology of the lungs itself. It is for this reason that in the initial stages of lung cancer, the patient may not feel anything and, accordingly, not think about going to the doctor.

Otherwise, a lung tumor has symptoms similar to those of other respiratory diseases: shortness of breath, cough, etc. In the case of a painless course, oncology can be diagnosed during fluorography or during the treatment of prolonged pneumonia.

When it’s time to see a doctor

It’s a paradox, but pains directly in the process of smoking a cigarette rarely visit a person. And if the sternum hurts after smoking, you should immediately make an appointment with a specialist. These pains are not in the nature of a spasm, rather they are sharp, burning pains that “sound the alarm”, notifying the patient about the development of pathology.

Advice for young people who are seriously thinking about smoking: talk to heavy smokers about the feeling in your chest you have to live with, or those people who quit smoking, but paid with their health for the addiction.

Lung pain after quitting

When a heavy smoker finds the strength to quit cigarettes, he often notes that while he quits smoking, his lungs hurt. In this case, the pain syndrome spreads to the chest area – and a person may experience a variety of unpleasant sensations or even cough. Most often, this condition is observed due to the active cleansing of the respiratory tract from harmful substances accumulated in the organs. But sometimes chest pain can develop into a pathological condition that requires the intervention of a specialist. What symptoms you should pay close attention to, why the lungs hurt, how to help them cleanse and how to get rid of discomfort, we will tell in this article.

Explanation of nicotine withdrawal

Approximately in the first two weeks after quitting cigarettes, an ex-smoker experiences a number of symptoms called nicotine withdrawal. They appear due to the interruption of the regular intake of nicotine into the body, which has already managed to form both psychological and physiological dependence in a person. Signs of nicotine withdrawal include:

• increased irritability;
• being in a state of unreasonable anger;
• appearance of anxiety;
• development of depressive disorders;
• sleep disorder;
• constant feeling of hunger;
• appearance of overweight.

A person experiencing nicotine withdrawal feels a strong desire to return to a bad habit. It is difficult for him to focus on individual things. He is constantly distracted and can be impatient and restless. The most difficult thing for a former smoker is in the first two or three days. Already after 14 days, the craving for cigarettes gradually weakens, and with it the abstinence, which is also called the withdrawal syndrome, goes away.

What causes chest pain after quitting

One of the signs of nicotine withdrawal is chest pain. Its main reason is the active release of the lungs and other organs that make up the respiratory system from toxins and nicotine accumulated during smoking. Among the most common factors leading to the appearance of pain in the chest after quitting smoking, there is also a change in breathing – it becomes more frequent and deeper. As soon as a person gives up cigarettes, his body directs all resources to restore and cleanse tissues, but local immunity is still too weak to resist infections, which in some cases leads to the development of bronchitis and other diseases that provoke pain. The process of tissue repair itself can lead to a similar phenomenon. In any case, if pain occurs in the thoracic region, you should consult a doctor to exclude the possibility of developing diseases. Often, a detailed study of the patient’s condition reveals the following facts that led to painful sensations:

1. Gradual relaxation of bronchospasm. When you smoke another cigarette, the smoker’s bronchi are compressed. This is how a protective mechanism works, the task of which is to prevent harmful substances from entering the lungs. This reaction leads to shortness of breath. Quitting smoking promotes the expansion of the bronchi, which allows you to take deeper breaths.

2. The appearance of excessive pressure in the lungs and their vessels, provoked by the formation of excess fluid. This phenomenon is accompanied by the cleansing of the respiratory organs and the acceleration of metabolic processes associated with the rejection of nicotine. Its characteristic symptoms are an intense cough with copious sputum and sore throat.

3. Oversaturation of the body with oxygen. When smoking, the bronchi are so narrowed that they cannot pass the oxygen necessary for the full functioning of the body into the lungs. When this part of the respiratory system returns to normal, the body does not have time to adapt to new conditions in the form of a complete filling of the lungs with air.

Extrapulmonary diseases are also among the common causes of chest pain when quitting smoking. This is how violations of the functioning of the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems manifest themselves. The paroxysmal appearance of acute and severe pain often accompanies thoracic sciatica. At the same time, discomfort in the sides joins the pain in the chest, but its epicenter is the vertebral region. In some people who have given up cigarettes, the pain resembles a burning sensation and is aggravated by any touch to the thoracic region. So most often manifested intercostal neuralgia.

How to get rid of pain

The appearance of chest pain becomes one of the reasons for visiting a doctor. This may be a therapist who, at the initial examination, will be able to understand the overall clinical picture and send the patient with such a complaint to a pulmonologist or cardiologist. To identify the cause of the pain syndrome, a former smoker is sent for research, including x-rays of the lungs, fluorography, or magnetic resonance imaging. If respiratory diseases or extrapulmonary pathologies are detected, the doctor prescribes treatment that is aimed both at eliminating the cause of pain and at relieving discomfort. If chest pain is not associated with illness, but is only a symptom of nicotine withdrawal, a person is advised to adhere to the following rules:

• go for outdoor walks more often;
• drink as much water as possible daily so that the body recovers and cleanses itself faster;
• eat foods containing protein compounds for better tissue repair;
• limit for some time communication with smoking acquaintances.

By adjusting biological rhythms, you can also get rid of chest pain. You need to follow the daily routine, giving enough time for sleep. Do not forget about physical activity, the level of which should correspond to the characteristics of the state of health of a particular person. The best possible way to solve the problem is always to see a doctor.

Treatment of symptom

Treatment of chest pain depends on the overall clinical picture. As soon as the main and additional studies are carried out, the doctor examines their results and makes an appointment corresponding to the case presented. Treatment of chest pain will be successful if approached comprehensively. Often, the doctor prescribes medications that can eliminate the root cause of the appearance of an unpleasant symptom. These can be anti-bronchitis drugs to remove sputum from the lungs, as well as those drugs that help restore the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract or the cardiovascular system. The patient is recommended to do breathing exercises, swimming, running. All appointments are made taking into account the individual characteristics of the body of a person who has refused cigarettes. In some cases, the treatment of the lungs is delayed for several months, and their full recovery takes up to a year. However, it is possible to cope with the pain syndrome quite quickly if all the recommendations are followed.

Mistakes in the treatment of chest pain

If quitting smoking has caused chest pain, do not reach for a cigarette again. It is worth paying attention to how the pain syndrome manifests itself. Sometimes it is present all the time, which indicates severe damage to lung tissue. In this case, smoking is contraindicated. It is not recommended to independently select drugs and herbs for treatment. Each tool has its own characteristics and is aimed at achieving different goals. Starting taking medications without medical advice can only aggravate your condition.

Helping the body to quit smoking

Bath procedures will help improve blood flow, cleanse blood vessels and lungs. Under the influence of hot air, the pores expand, and through them, along with sweat, toxins accumulated in the body come out. Bath procedures also contribute to the liquefaction of sputum and its active removal from the lungs. When bathing, you can use aromatic oils, which also have a beneficial effect on the body. Before proceeding to bath procedures, you should make sure that there are no contraindications.

You can make it easier to cleanse your body when you quit smoking by saturating your diet with foods such as fish, fruits and cereals. It is recommended to eat apples, pineapples, garlic, ginger. If there are no contraindications, the doctor may prescribe coniferous decoctions and milk with honey. They envelop the throat and mucous membranes, while providing a soothing and antioxidant effect.

Ways to restore the lungs

Inhalation will help to restore the work of the lungs and speed up the process of their purification when quitting smoking. From medicinal herbs with anti-inflammatory action, a decoction is prepared, which also helps to expand the bronchi and make sputum more liquid for its better discharge. Inhalations should be done daily for 10-15 minutes for two weeks.

The lungs clear themselves after quitting smoking, but sometimes the cilia located on the mucous membranes of the bronchi cannot be activated. Due to exposure to smoke and nicotine, they stick together. In this case, they do not expel mucus well. They need to be helped by taking expectorants and mucolytics or by taking a course of vibration massage. But any of these appointments is made by a doctor, as they may have contraindications. Self-treatment can provoke a worsening of the condition.

Lung recovery will be quick and effective if you do breathing exercises three times a day. They start with a deep breath. Then they hold their breath for a few seconds and slowly release the air from the lungs, doing this with short pauses. These exercises are repeated five times. Two other inhalation techniques can also be applied. The first is that air is drawn into the lungs until a feeling of fullness appears, and then exhaled.