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Is Marijuana Safe To Smoke While Treating A Throat Infection?

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Posted on Thu, 2 Aug 2018
Question: I had two ulcers last monday and a fungal infection in my throat I haven't amoked in 8 day's would it be harmful to smoke marijuana making the fungal infection worse, should i wait until throat is fully heales because it doesn't hurt as bad as it did 5 days ago, or do I just not smoke again and make edibles/tea?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (26 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
a few thoughts.

Detailed Answer:
Asthma steroid inhalers, diabetes, HIV, other immune problems, chemotherapy lower the ability to fight infection and lead to yeast infections and fungal infections. The immune problem does not have to be very bad for this to occur. Diabetics or people taking any steroids have this and not many other infections. The yeast infections might be irritating but the immune system works well enough that it isn't going to go into the person; just on the throat.

Marijuana doesn't do even that much to the immune system and so it shouldn't lead to a yeast infection nor make an infection worse

BUT, smoking of ANYTHING scrapes the area and makes it more irritated.

The ulcer or other breaks in the skin or lining of the throat WILL allow germs to get in and is a set up for infection including yeast.

So, smoking may mechanically irritate the area. Edibles and tea are just not an issue.



Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (8 minutes later)
I was abusing alcohol and haven't had a drink in 9 days either and im going to an outpatient program friday which im very open too bevauae is topped drinking for three months in 2015 by myself but thjngs happens and fell back but I know if I continue he way i was drinking I'll be dead but I figured I share that as well becauae I thought the ulcers were part of that combined with the diabetes. I'm a little confused as to weather or not it would be safe to say that i could amoke? I do know any smoke harms the throat and lungs just with the fungal infection if it could cause more damage. Which you may have answered i just have never iaed this site and figure I'd give it a whirl. Thank you
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (15 hours later)
Brief Answer:
You're very welcome

Detailed Answer:
and we are required to post to every follow up, even if it is thank you. AND it's a good question and frankly the thank you brings up a lot:
1) diabetes relates badly to alcohol use. Alcohol breaks down to stuff that leads to type II diabetes (calories and no vitamins nor fiber, but it specfically goes to fat and is a bit more of a stress for the same amount of calories than say, oatmeal). AND, it damages the liver and pancreas. Severe enough damage to either would put you in the hospital, so, if you don't know you've had pancreatitis, it cannot be enough to have made you a type I diabetic.
2) If you aren't dying you aren't in the last stage of alcoholic cirrhosis. If you haven't been hospitalized, you probably are not in the next worst category. But this doesn't mean you haven't lost most of your liver...just that liver damage is silent until it is quite bad.
3) nine days without ANY alcohol would mean you are almost certainly outside the time frame in which alcohol withdrawal will cause seizures and outside of the time period where someone needs inpatient monitoring to come off of alcohol

Cannabis only relates to this indirectly due to the mechanical damage of the smoking and it doesn't do much to liver, pancreas, metabolism (increased appetite) or lung or immunity except for the smoke.

Thank you for a great question!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (19 minutes later)
I really appreciate it thank you so much! Have a great day and if I have any other questions in the future I'll sure turn to this site and you thanks again.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
You are very welcome

Detailed Answer:
glad to be of help. Contact us anytime and I think there are ways to directly send me a question (but I don't know them)
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman

Addiction Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1985

Answered : 4214 Questions

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Is Marijuana Safe To Smoke While Treating A Throat Infection?

Brief Answer: a few thoughts. Detailed Answer: Asthma steroid inhalers, diabetes, HIV, other immune problems, chemotherapy lower the ability to fight infection and lead to yeast infections and fungal infections. The immune problem does not have to be very bad for this to occur. Diabetics or people taking any steroids have this and not many other infections. The yeast infections might be irritating but the immune system works well enough that it isn't going to go into the person; just on the throat. Marijuana doesn't do even that much to the immune system and so it shouldn't lead to a yeast infection nor make an infection worse BUT, smoking of ANYTHING scrapes the area and makes it more irritated. The ulcer or other breaks in the skin or lining of the throat WILL allow germs to get in and is a set up for infection including yeast. So, smoking may mechanically irritate the area. Edibles and tea are just not an issue.