chest tightness, altered breathing from vaping or smoking

Anyone out there that can relate to what I feel?

Pretty much every time I have smoked, most of the time I've eaten brownies, and now when I vape, I get a sensation of altered breathing. It's not a shortness of breath exactly, but more like a thing where I pay too much attention to my breathing bc/ it feels different. I don't think it's a psychological, trip-out going on.
I'm not asthmatic, and I exercise regularly, so my lungs should be in good shape. I should add that I'm only a 1-2 X /week smoker.

THC is a known bronchodilator, and this may be casuing the sensation. This would explain why I feel it w/ the brownies too, and imply that it's not just a case of smoke irritating or damaging the lungs.

Well if you are vaping or smoking the brownies then there is your sign there.

I think that you nailed it with THC being a bronchodilator. (Heh that almost made me type Bronco Dildo Ater)

I must be vaked...

I pay too much attention to my breathing...
...I don't think it's a psychological, trip-out going on.

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Why not?

Substances affect everyone differently and with a psychoactive such as cannabis, the mental aspect plays a big part. From my experience, this type of issue often goes hand in hand with anxiety/paranoia.

Have you tried smaller doses? Maybe a more comfortable environment?

It very well could be psychological. Sounds like a bit of hyperventilating going on. Next time that happens, try breathing in and out into a paper bag for awhile to see if that alleviates the problem.

Sounds like my girl. The whole reason why she doesn't partake with me is for that exact reason, she feels as though she concentrates too much on her breathing and kinda freaks out.

If you come up with anything, please let me know.

I had a similar thing.Had to be pretty faded to feel it, but it was almost like the feeling you get when you get SUPER startled for a split second and your heart skips a beat so to speak. It is hard to explain except that it just feels funny, almost like you can't get a good, solid breath. At that point, I would just tell myself to relax and that it was all in my head. Usually I was smoking in a spot I was uncertain about or I felt was risky. Either way, I just told myself that I was high, and I knew nothing drastically bad could happen and tried to relax.

Tightness in the lungs after heavy vaping is something I've experienced, and 'smoke no more' is a demand my lungs insist on, but brownies? If you're experiencing a physical sensation with your lungs, it should not be the same feeling with smoke, vapor, and edibles.

max said:

Tightness in the lungs after heavy vaping is something I've experienced, and 'smoke no more' is a demand my lungs insist on, but brownies? If you're experiencing a physical sensation with your lungs, it should not be the same feeling with smoke, vapor, and edibles.

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Unless it's psychological. I say it's hyperventilation. When one is a bit anxious, they can hyperventilate, I.E, breath faster than they need to, not to the point that they notice it, but to the point that they reduce the carbon dioxide in their blood. When that happens, the symptoms can be, tightness in the chest, and feeling that you're not getting enough air, and when that happens, you breath deeper which only worsens the situation. One then becomes very conscious of their breathing.

I could be wrong, but this sounds like the most likely scenario.

It could be several things causing this as opposed to just one thing.
First of all I wouldn't assume that something isn't wrong with your lungs, I'm not saying there is either, but if this is a frequent occurrence. To me at least, it would warrant a visit to a medical professional who you can communicate exactly everything you are feeling, so they can properly diagnose your symptoms and address the issue if there is one. Whatever you discuss is confidential assuming you are of legal age wherever it is you live.

As you and others have stated and at least considered, it could also very well be a 'psychological' reaction of some sort. Depending on stimuli such as your environment, state of mind, and general feelings towards cannabis intake, a reaction is possible. A somewaht similar reaction is something referred to as the fight or flight response.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fight-or-flight_response

Years ago I had a friend who had a similar reaction when using cannabis. He would at times become overly paranoid, become extremely anxious or have a shortness of breath. After having a conversation with him about this, he admitted that he had a lot of reservations about using cannabis and was most scared of getting 'found out' as it were. He had no such reaction to the use of alcohol, but cannabis, which is known to excarcebate feelings of paranoi and anxiety as previously stated, did cause him to have this reaction.

I am not saying this is what is happening to you, but were I you, I would certainly look into and cosnider the possibility of an underlying medical cause or your mental state when using cannabis.

Edit to add that even if these sensations or symptoms are only present when vaping cannabis, it would seem to me very likely that the relatively higher dosage of THC you receive when vaping cannabis as compared to combusting cannabis is contributing to the stronger side effects present for some.

Cheers and good luck!

EitherOr, being that he exercises regularly with no lung discomfort, and being that these symptoms only happen when he uses cannabis, and it happens both with vapor and with edibles, I do think it is psychological. The only physical thing that could make sense here is an allergic reaction to cannabis.

The first time that I smoked (1984), I was at a bar and I freaked out because I thought I could feel every one of my internal organs. I didn't like it. At all. Obviously I don't get that sensation any more.

I'm at the point where the use of Cannabis is 50% for enjoyment and 50% for medical reasons, so I think my body is training itself to ignore or partially suspend some effects. However, if I vaee at too low a temperature (say Green Crack, 0.5g at 140C), in order to maximize antiinflammatory effect, I do tend to get extremely agitated and anxious. Higher temperature vaporization (say 180C and above) and I generally find I'm okay.

If it happens with smoking, eating and vaporization I would have to agree with others and say it could be psychological.

Tom

lwien, Indeed! I think it very likely as well. That very much was the case with my friend.

At this point, in my opinion, there is a lot of information that has been shared with jaque mate, it is up to him to proceed with the information and find a solution. We can not specify a defining cause to his symptoms as we almost certainly do not have all the facts, and we have no idea if there is anything else amiss medically, be it psychological or physical.

To me the logical first step would be to seek the opinion of a medical professional in my area and proceed from there. It may be that the knowledge of knowing there is nothing wrong psychically could help him address the true cause of his problem.

lwien said:

EitherOr, being that he exercises regularly with no lung discomfort, and being that these symptoms only happen when he uses cannabis, and it happens both with vapor and with edibles, I do think it is psychological. The only physical thing that could make sense here is an allergic reaction to cannabis.

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OK here's my .

- Don't smoke. Even one hit of that will probably be worse for your lungs than a full day of vaping. I know that the last time I smoked a joint (over a year ago) my lungs felt it for days after (and I vape every day).

- If you're still getting tightness from vaping, use a bubbler or an ice chamber. Hot dry vapour (or even air) can be irritating to the airways.

Qbit said:

- If you're still getting tightness from vaping, use a bubbler or an ice chamber. Hot dry vapour (or even air) can be irritating to the airways.

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But he doesn't just get it from vaping, but he gets it from edibles as well, which would indicate that it's more from the cannabis high than from anything that could potentially irritate his airways.

lwien said:

Qbit said:

- If you're still getting tightness from vaping, use a bubbler or an ice chamber. Hot dry vapour (or even air) can be irritating to the airways.

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But he doesn't just get it from vaping, but he gets it from edibles as well, which would indicate that it's more from the cannabis high than from anything that could potentially irritate his airways.

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Hmm, the OP was a bit vague on this, as he never said that he had eaten brownies by themselves, just that he had eaten them 'pretty much every time' he smoked.

But anyway, supposing that he does feel chest tightness after edibles alone - well I would suggest that it's likely to be the psychotropic effects of the weed that is making him more aware of his body sensations, and so more aware of his lungs. And when you're a smoker, you're going to feel the effects of your smoking, even if you haven't smoked that day.

jaque mate - I used to get this, and it was absolutely psychological. Does it happen when you are also drinking? For me achohol would usually dull or eliminate the syptoms. I almost never have that problem any more, though. I think I'm just getting more mellow as I enter middle-age. I guess that's a true good-news/bad-news thing.

When it did happen it would help to focus on breathing deeply.

thanks to all. thoughtful and kind. that's good online community for you.

i believe there's a good chance it's a little anxiety (always common for me the first few mins after a big rip) combining with the bronchodilation, which may cause a different sensation in the lungs, and the elevated heart rate ( a well-documented effect of cannabis ).
not to worry though, it's not an overwhelming thing, just a little bump in the road sometimes.