Potential Link Between Marijuana and Heart Risks Discovered by Cardiologists

As more states legalize marijuana for both medicinal and recreational use and use increases nationwide, cardiologists should advise patients about the potential risks, including effects of marijuana with some commonly prescribed cardiovascular medications, according to a research review published today (January 20, 2020) in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

The authors estimate that more than 2 million cardiovascular disease patients are currently using marijuana or have used marijuana previously. This includes recreational use and approved medical uses, such as human immunodeficiency virus-related weight loss, treatment of seizure disorders, or chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting.

"Some observational studies have suggested an association between marijuana and a range of cardiovascular risks,” said lead author Muthiah Vaduganathan, MD, MPH, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Heart and Vascular Center in Boston. “We also know that marijuana is becoming increasingly potent. Our review suggests that smoking marijuana carries many of the same cardiovascular health hazards as smoking tobacco. While the level of evidence is modest, there’s enough data for us to advise caution in using marijuana for our highest-risk patients, including those who present with a heart attack or new arrhythmia, or who have been hospitalized with heart failure.”

Certain cardiovascular medications, including statins and blood thinners, can be affected by marijuana use, the review found. For example, statin levels can increase in the blood when used together with marijuana because both are metabolized through a network of liver enzymes called the cytochrome P450 system. Levels of blood thinners such as warfarin also can be expected to increase when used together with marijuana.

“The review provides detailed tables of many drugs administered for various cardiovascular conditions, with the anticipated effects of marijuana on each one,” Vaduganathan said. “These will be helpful to cardiologists and pharmacists reviewing patients’ medications and will help them collaboratively decide whether they need to adjust dosing if the patient continues to use marijuana.”

The reviewers recommend that cardiologists screen their patients for marijuana use, asking them how often and how much they use. They also should ask about how they use marijuana.

“Vaping marijuana is becoming more and more common, and we know vaping marijuana increases the pharmacological effects of the drug,” Vaduganathan said.

For patients who wish to continue to use marijuana, or who have other medically indicated reasons for use, the reviewers recommend limiting use as much as possible and for clinicians to inform patients that vaping and certain synthetic forms of cannabinoids are particularly potent and may have greater adverse effects.

In some patients, cardiologists should test for marijuana use by urine toxicology screening, the reviewers recommend. These include patients being considered for heart transplantation or those who present with early-onset heart attacks or heart failure at a young age.

The review also analyzed the current state of evidence linking marijuana use with cardiovascular health and disease.

Data on the exact health effects of marijuana on the cardiovascular system are limited, largely because federal laws that classify marijuana as a Schedule I drug have limited the ability of scientists to conduct high-quality research, Vaduganathan said.

“Now that we have seen marijuana use become more popular than tobacco smoking, we need more rigorous research, including randomized clinical trials, to explore the effects of marijuana on cardiovascular health,” he said.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement 

LGBT women at heightened risk of drug use

Women who find themselves in the LGBT category are at a heightened risk of drug abuse which becomes visible around the age of 13, reveals a new study.

The findings added that the odds of substance use among females who identify as sexual minorities is 400 per cent higher than their heterosexual female peers.

"We saw this striking difference in substance use at age 13 and there was a rapid increase in the rate of cigarette and alcohol use from there," said  the lead author. Among youth, alcohol, marijuana and nicotine are the three most commonly used drugs.

Past research has shown that sexual minority youth reported nearly three times more substance use than heterosexual youth. This disparity may be due in part to stress from discrimination, violence and victimisation rooted in their sexual minority status, she said. The pattern of increased substance use for youth saw a rise in the cases of women.

Using data from about 2,200 participants, a large, longitudinal study of the lives of urban girls, researchers examined substance use among females over time from age 13 to 20, comparing those who identified as heterosexual to those identifying as lesbian/gay or bisexual.

They looked at when disparities in use between heterosexual and sexual minority identifying females began to emerge; rates of change over time for both groups; and how rates change as the girls approach young adulthood.

The researchers found that disparities were already present at age 13. The difference in use between heterosexual and sexual minority girls persisted and increased as they entered their 20s.

The author said, "It's already a risky and vulnerable period for youths' social development, and it's also a vulnerable time for brain development."

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/  

                            FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                      https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

Cancer patients more likely to use marijuana

Many cancer patients use marijuana and its usage has increased, a new study suggests. The findings,  indicate 40.3 per cent cancer patients used marijuana within the past year, compared with 38 per cent of respondents without cancer.

“Prospective clinical trials are needed to quantify the efficacy of marijuana in cancer-specific pain as well as the risk of opioid misuse in this patient population,” said co-author.

For the study, 826 people with cancer were matched to 1,652 controls.

The researchers found significantly increased use of marijuana over time — likely reflecting increased availability due to legislative changes — but they found stable rates of opioid use.

They found patients with cancer were more likely to use prescription opioids than adults without cancer — 13.9 per cent versus 6.4 per cent.

“Medical marijuana legislation has previously been associated with reduction in hospitalisations related to opioid dependence or abuse, suggesting if patients are in fact substituting marijuana for opioid, this may introduce an opportunity for reducing opioid-related morbidity and mortality,” said lead author of the study.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/    

                                                                                                                                                     FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/  

         

                   FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                  https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com  

Marijuana edibles can affect heart health in elderly

With marijuana legalisation sweeping the US, an increasing number of people believe that “weed” is the safest recreational drug, and carries health benefits that outweigh its risks.

However, according to a new study, each marijuana formulation may affect and sometimes even compromise the cardiovascular system in older adults.

“Marijuana can be a useful tool for many patients, especially for pain and nausea relief. At the same time, like all other medications, it does carry risks and side effects,” said a researcher.

The study, examined the case of a patient who developed crushing chest pain and myocardial ischemia after consuming most of a marijuana lollipop.

The “inappropriate dosing and oral consumption of marijuana resulted in distress that caused a cardiac event and subsequent reduced cardiac function,” he said.

The report describes a 70-year-old man with stable coronary artery disease, taking the appropriate cardiac medications, who ate most of a lollipop that was infused with 90 mg of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) to relieve pain and aid sleep. The lollipop caused him to have a potentially serious heart attack.

According to the report, he consumed a much larger dose than the 7 mg that is typically ingested by smoking a single joint or taking the 2.5 mg starting dose of a synthetic THC.

The patient’s ingestion of an unusually large amount of THC caused the unexpected strain on his body from anxiety and fearful hallucinations and likely triggered the cardiac event, the researchers said.

While previous research on marijuana-induced myocardial ischemia has mostly focused on younger patients, healthcare providers need to understand and manage cannabis use and its complications in older patients, particularly in those with cardiovascular disease, the researchers noted.

A number of prior case reports, as well as epidemiological studies, have described the association between cannabis use and acute cardiovascular adverse events, including myocardial infarction, stroke, arrhythmias and sudden death.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/       

                                                                                                                                                               FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/           
                                                                           FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                  https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

New Study Finds That Marijuana And Alcohol Age Brain

A new study by a celebrity doctor, has found that marijuana use and alcohol consumption accelerates brain aging by 0.6 years and 2.8 years respectively.
 
The study, which is thought to be the largest brain imaging study ever conducted, involved the analysis of no less than 62,454 SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) scans taken from more than 30,000 people. The people scanned were aged between nine months and 105 years.

Its aim was to determine the factors that contribute most to the brain again. One of the findings in addition to the effects of alcohol and marijuana use that the study made was that brain disorders such as schizophrenia, ADD and bipolar disorder contribute significantly to brain deterioration.

Dr. stated his belief that his findings on cannabis were particularly significant when put in the context of the global push to legalize the substance. He also added that it doesn’t appear to be as safe as the movement for it to be viewed as a harmless way to unwind would have you believe.

“Based on one of the largest brain imaging studies ever done, we can now track common disorders and behaviors that prematurely age the brain. Better treatment of these disorders can slow or even halt the process of brain aging. The cannabis abuse finding was especially important, as our culture is starting to see marijuana as an innocuous substance. This study should give us pause about it,” he added.

In the US alone, some eight states have legalized marijuana for recreational use,  while a further 22 states have laws that allow for marijuana use by providing limited access to it under certain conditions.

 A recent poll found that some 64% of Americans support the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, numbers that have never been seen before. The reason for this is believed to be the huge amount of researching pointing to marijuana being one of the least harmful drugs available. With that being said, this study appears to show that its effects on the brain might be more severe than previously thought.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/  

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                        https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                              
FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

Marijuana use may not affect fertility

Marijuana use — by either men or women — does not lower a couple’s chances of becoming a parent, finds a study challenging previous theories.

While marijuana is one of the most widely used recreational drugs among individuals of reproductive age, it has also long been promoted as an effective treatment for a range of medical conditions, including epilepsy and chronic pain.

Previous studies have also shown that marijuana use has adverse effects on male fertility as it lowers sperm count and quality, and smoking the weed impacts both egg quality and a woman’s menstrual cycle.

The new study, published in the Journal, demonstrated that there was no link between fecundability — the average per-cycle probability of conception — and marijuana use.

Marijuana has been legalised for recreational purposes in some states .

“Given the increasing number of states legalising recreational marijuana across the nation, we thought it was an opportune time to investigate the association between marijuana use and fertility,” said  the lead author.

While animal studies have indicated that the risk for miscarriage increases if marijuana is used early in pregnancy, some associations have been found between marijuana use during pregnancy and future developmental and hyperactivity disorders in children.

For the study, the team had surveyed 4,194 women aged 21 to 45 living in the US or Canada from 2013 through 2017.

After 12 cycles of follow-up, conception probabilities were found to be similar among couples that used marijuana and those that did not.

However, the questions about the effects of marijuana use still remain, as classifying people correctly according to the amount of marijuana used, especially when relying on self-reported data, is challenging, the researchers said.

“Future studies with day-specific data on marijuana use might better be able to distinguish acute from chronic effects of marijuana use, and evaluate whether effects depend on other factors,” the  author said.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.    

PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-                      
HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM/

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                        

HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR CROCHET DESIGNS
HTTP://MY CROCHET CREATIONS.BLOGSPOT.COM

Here's How You Can Reverse Memory Loss

Dementia is a loss of mental skills that affects our daily life. It can cause problems with memory and how well one can think, plan and execute. Usually dementia gets worse with time but how long this takes is different for each person. Some people stay the same for years. Others lose skills quickly.
According to a recent study, prolonged low-dose treatment with a marijuana (gaanja in Hindi) compound may help reverse memory loss and improve cognitive skills, a finding that could pave the way for slowing brain ageing or treating dementia in humans. 

According to the study, the brain ages much faster when mice do not possess any functional receptors for tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC - the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects. However, treatment with THC imitates the effect of cannabinoids produced naturally in the body, which fulfill important functions in the brain.
“With increasing age, the quantity of the cannabinoids naturally formed in the brain reduces. When the activity of the cannabinoid system declines, we find rapid ageing in the brain,” said Andreas Zimmer, professor at the University of Bonn in Germany.
The researchers administered a small quantity of THC to mice aged two, 12 and 18 months over a period of four weeks. The results revealed that the cognitive functions of the older mice were just as good as the two-month-old mice.
As a next step, the researchers want to conduct a clinical trial to investigate whether THC also reverses ageing processes in the brain in humans and can increase cognitive ability.
Although there are no guarantees when it comes to preventing memory loss or dementia, certain activities might help. Here are some tips that may help:

• Stay mentally active - mentally stimulating activities help keep the brain agile and help keep memory loss at bay. Activities like crossword puzzles, sudoku etc are good for sharpening the brain.
• Socialize regularly - social interaction helps ward off depression and stress, both of which can contribute to memory loss. Create opportunities to meet up with people.
• Eat healthy - a healthy diet is good for your brain so eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• Be organized - jot down tasks, make a to-do list and maintain a calendar or planner.
• Limit distractions and don't do too many things at once. brain and keeps your memory sharp.
• Sleep well - sleep plays an important role in resting the mind and consolidate memories.new cures
• Physical activity - physical activity increases blood flow to your whole body, including your
• Manage chronic conditions - Take treatment for any underlying conditions like depression, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes etc.

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations 
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement