Should You Take Edibles When Sick with the Flu?

You may be tempted to use edibles when sick with the flu, but it may not necessarily offer the relief that you are seeking. In fact, trying to use a marijuana edible could actually make you feel sicker or have other negative consequences for your mental and physical health. Let’s take a closer look at what to consider before using an edible when you have the flu, as well as some healthier alternatives to help you get better faster.

TL;DR: Yes, cannabis edibles may help with some flu symptoms, but it’s generally NOT recommended to use them while sick. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice.

An Overview of Common Flu Symptoms

Before we look at how edibles impact your health while you have the flu, let’s talk a little bit about what the flu does to your body. One of the most common symptoms is a fever, which occurs when your body temperature becomes elevated as a result of your body attempting to fight a virus or infection. You may also experience a sore throat and runny nose, which are common with viral infections like the flu or a common cold.

You may also experience bouts of dizziness, vomiting, or difficulty concentrating. Ironically, you may experience chills as a result of the outside air now feeling cooler to your warmer skin. Therefore, you may feel the need to stay covered under blankets even when your temperature exceeds 100 degrees.

Finally, you may have difficulty sleeping, eating, or interacting with light for about three to seven days. It’s generally in your best interest to stay home until symptoms subside, and if possible, you should stay away from others for an extra day just to ensure that you won’t pass it on to others.

How Edibles Might Relieve Your Symptoms

Eating an edible that contains CBD extract or oil might be helpful, as it can work to ease headaches or other aches that you might experience while you’re sick. It can also help you fall asleep faster without making you feel even groggier than you already do. Finally, due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it may help to ease sinus or other pressure that can accompany a bout of the flu.

How Edibles Might Make Your Symptoms Worse

Using edibles can be helpful if they are your primary form of symptom relief. However, if you take them in conjunction with cold medicine or similar products, you may find that you feel even more tired or groggy than you otherwise would be. It can also cause severe impairment, which means that you wouldn’t be able to drive to the doctor, pharmacy, or elsewhere for treatment.

Edibles Are Preferable to Smoking Cannabis

Generally speaking, you’ll get most of the same benefits of cannabis whether you choose to smoke weed or eat it. However, when it comes to flu relief, edibles have one main advantage over smoking, and that advantage is that eating cannabis won’t leave you vulnerable to respiratory symptoms. Smoking cannabis can cause damage to your lungs and respiratory system, which can cause you to experience fits of coughing or have difficulty breathing even as it reduces the severity of other symptoms.

Cannabis Won’t Treat the Infection that Causes the Flu

Regardless of whether you eat or smoke THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), it will not do anything to treat the underlying flu virus. Therefore, you’ll still need to rest for several days before you can return to school, work, or other activities despite the fact that you might feel better than you are.

What You Can Do Instead to Battle the Flu

As a general rule, doctors do not recommend that you use cannabis while trying to get over the flu. Instead, you should stay hydrated whether you want to drink water, orange juice, or anything else that has natural ingredients.

Ideally, you’ll stay away from soda, coffee, or other drinks that have caffeine in them, as it will dehydrate you and make it harder to sleep. Staying hydrated is important because you can lose a lot of liquid through sweat or when you vomit. If you experience any signs of dehydration, talk to your doctor immediately or seek treatment at a local hospital.

Your doctor may prescribe medication that will fight the virus that causes the flu, as well as treat your symptoms. If you are going to take prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications, it’s generally not a good idea to use cannabis, as it can interact poorly with your medication.

In addition to potentially causing a higher level of impairment, cannabis could render your medication ineffective at fighting off what’s inside you. Therefore, you could make your symptoms worse or extend the amount of time it takes for your body to clear out the virus and allow you to return to health.

Eat Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

Fresh fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals that your body needs to support a healthy immune system. The calories that you get from eating full meals each day will provide your body with the extra energy it needs to fight off the flu virus in a timely manner. Of course, there is nothing wrong with having a bowl of ice cream or other comfort foods in moderation to go along with your apple or steamed broccoli.

Add Humidity to the Air

Adding a humidifier to your room or simply spending some more time in the shower can help to ease symptoms of the flu. This is because humid air acts as a decongestant, which can ease coughing and make it easier to breathe overall.

A lack of stuff clogging your nose may also make it easier to sleep without having to toss and turn every few minutes. Vaporizers or similar devices can be purchased at a local pharmacy for a few dollars and can be set up with ease in your bedroom or wherever else you plan on recovering.

If You Are Still Tempted to Use

Having the flu can be a miserable experience that can have a negative impact on your mental health. This alone may trigger your desire to use cannabis or other controlled substances. However, if you are tempted to use despite the negative consequences that doing so may cause, it may be helpful to consider whether you are potentially addicted to it.

It may be a good idea to talk to friends, family members, or others to find out if your drug use has had any impact on their lives. You might also want to take a look at bank statements or other transaction logs to determine how much you spend on cannabis or how often you use.

If you think that you might have a problem, there are facilities in your area that can help. Whether you decide to opt for inpatient or outpatient rehab, it’s typically easier to get past a dependency on drugs or other substances with professional help.

This is because you have little to no control over your addiction and won’t be able to fully overcome it without a support network to rely on. Your support network may include doctors, mental health professionals, and others who you meet while in rehab.

How Drug Use Could Impact Your Long-Term Physical Health

Failing to seek help today might increase your risk of long-term health complications. For example, smoking or vaping of any kind can damage your lungs, heart, and immune system. This can weaken your body’s ability to respond to viruses, leaving you more susceptible to infections and potentially more severe immune responses.

Cannabis use, particularly smoking or vaping cannabis products, may also have side effects, including an impact on your nervous system and cannabinoid receptors, which regulate various bodily functions. Chronic use may lead to drowsiness, lightheadedness, or other adverse effects that compromise your overall health. Furthermore, some studies suggest that excessive cannabis use could affect your body’s ability to manage inflammation or respond to conditions such as asthma.

These issues can make it harder to maintain physical fitness, increasing your risk of obesity, high blood pressure, and other problems that could worsen future illnesses. For those experiencing dependency on cannabis, including edibles like tinctures or gummies, or other substances, it’s essential to seek medical advice.

At Long Island Interventions, we offer support to help individuals overcome substance dependency. Our team can guide you toward sobriety with tailored programs and tools for long-term success. If you’re the loved one of someone struggling with drug or alcohol dependency, we’re here to provide information and assistance to help them begin their recovery journey. Contact us today to learn more about our programs, pricing, and how to get started.

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Published on: 2024-12-31
Updated on: 2024-12-31