health and wellness

The Medicinal Value of Cannabis

Angela Manning Health , , ,
The Medicinal Value of Cannabis

Numerous states in the US have now legalized the medicinal use of marijuana. Colorado has even legalized it for recreational purposes. Overall, however, states only allow those with a qualifying illness to access it. Despite all of this, some people continue to say medicinal marijuana is wrong, and that those who need it for their health should access the synthetic form that the FDA has approved.

The Evidence for Marijuana

Why some people believe that there is no medicinal value to marijuana is incomprehensible. So much modern scientific studies have proven them completely wrong. It is undeniable that marijuana helps to reduce nausea and vomiting, that it helps people to put on weight, that it stimulates the appetite, that it helps lower glaucoma intra-ocular pressure, and that it reduces various forms of chronic pain.

A new study, which has not yet been peer reviewed, has also demonstrated that cannabis can help lower muscle spasticity, particularly when caused by multiple sclerosis or by spinal cord injuries. Another similar study has shown that the tremors associated with multiple sclerosis are reduced. Research is also being conducted into how marijuana can prevent convulsions, insomnia, seizures, depression, and migraine headaches.

Synthetic THC, the most important cannabinoid found in marijuana, has been available since 1986, when the FDA approved it and classified it as a Schedule II drug. Known as Marinol, it can be prescribed to fight nausea and to stimulate the appetite. It is mainly prescribed to HIV/AIDS patients and to those undergoing chemotherapy. Yet, many people have reported that vaporizing or smoking marijuana is far more effective, mainly because it works quickly and because it is difficult to swallow a pill when someone is nauseous or has no appetite.

One of the problems with cannabis is, however, that most people smoke it. Smoking is seen as the big bad bogeyman by physicians, who are more used to prescribing capsules, gel tabs, pills, or other oral preparations. Yet, when marijuana is smoked or vaporized, the blood concentration levels are as high as what they would be if they were intravenously injected.

Interestingly, marijuana is still a Schedule I classified substance. Hence, any user technically violates federal laws whenever they use it, even if they have a prescription for medical marijuana delivery in Los Angeles. However, people will never get prosecuted for it, since it is now accepted as a form of medical treatment. At the same time, this still varies by state, and only those in states where it is legalized can it be accessed, with a valid physician’s recommendation.

Numerous societies have spoken out publicly about the benefits of marijuana. This includes the New England Journal of Medicine, the Lymphoma Foundation of America, the Physicians Association for AIDS Car, the Federation of American Scientists, and the American Public Health Association. This public statement, coupled with the extensive scientific research on the benefits of cannabis for a variety of different conditions, truly shows that cannabis is effective and should be available on prescription.

Why Is Smoking Bad for You?

Angela Manning Health , , , , ,
Why Is Smoking Bad for You?

Why is smoking bad? Well, everyone is aware that smoking can pose a serious risk to your health and wellbeing.

However, with so much information out there, it can be difficult to differentiate between what’s fact and what’s fiction.

Read on and find out some of the main reasons why cigarettes are terrible for your health.

It contains cancer causing chemicals

Arguably the most concerning factor of smoking cigarettes are that they contain cancer causing chemicals.

In fact, there around 41,000 chemicals in cigarettes, with the fast majority of them being carcinogenic and combined with the heat of the smoke, this can cause you’re cells to multiply until they become cancerous.

Nose, mouth, oesophagus, stomach, blood and kidney cancers are just a handful of diseases that smoking can cause.

It makes you prone to heart disease or a stroke

You hear accounts of heavy smokers living late into their lives without suffering from a serious illness, but despite these accounts the figures don’t lie, and according to the British Heart Foundation, smokers are almost twice as likely to have a heart attack compared to those who have never smoked.

This is due to the fact that smoking cigarettes can disrupt the composition of your blood, which can cause it to clot. This can increase your blood pressure which will result in your chances of having either a stroke, heart disease or any other cardiovascular illness being increasingly higher.

It makes your bones brittle

Perhaps one of the least known dangers of smoking is that in can wreak havoc on your skeletal system.

Smoking can lead to a slower bone cell production, as well as faster bone loss, which postmenopausal women are more prone to.

As smoking can result in a loss in bone density, this can cause smokers to suffer from joint and back pain, and in some rare circumstances, even tooth loss due to the loss of bone density in their jaw.

Lastly, smoking’s effect on your bone structure can make smokers more prone to fractures with slower healing periods.

It can cause premature aging

As well as causing damage to your insides, smoking can be harsh on the outside too.

Smoking speeds up the ageing process, despite how much you fight it. Examples of how it can affect your appearance include, age spots, dry skin, puffy eyes and fine lines around your eyes and lips.

These changes can be permanent due to how a lack of blood flow to your skin causes damage to your connective fibres.

It can lead to erectile dysfunction

As smoking can have such a damning effect on your blood flow, this can also impact on your ability to maintain an erection too.

A study published in June of last year discovered that male smokers have caused significantly more damage to their sperm than those that don’t smoke. This is due to nicotine causing damage to your blood vessels that supply the penis.

This lack of blood to the penis can also cause both younger and older men to suffer from premature ejaculation. Decreased blood flow can also cause a lack of stamina, which again can be very detrimental to a man’s performance in the bedroom. If studies are to be believed, smoking can also lead to a lack of sensation and can cause male smokers to have less sexual desire.

If you don’t want smoking to cause potentially unrepairable damage to your body, perhaps vaping is the way forward for you.

Is vaping as bad for you as smoking? No, in fact certain e cig kits contain an adjustable ring which allows you to choose a higher or lesser airflow, making it a far healthier alternative to smoking.

For more information on how to kick your smoking habit, try out some of these recommended steps.

Common Injuries in Vehicle Accidents

Angela Manning Health , ,
Common Injuries in Vehicle Accidents

Source

There are few events more potentially dangerous to humans than vehicle accidents. When these large, heavy, and fast moving pieces of steel and other strong materials collide with each other or other very hard stationary objects, the result is often devastating injuries for the occupants.  Unfortunately vehicle accidents occur nearly every minute of every day in the US and as a result there are thousands of injured and dozens killed. It is true that most vehicle accidents do not result in catastrophic injury, but it is also true that often occupants walk or limp away from an accident thinking they are fine only to discover later that they did in fact receive significant injuries to the spine, head or internal organs. This is why spine specialists like Dr. Joseph Yazdi warn that anyone involved in a vehicle accident needs to be examined by a physician to see if he or she has sustained one of these types of injuries:

Soft tissue injuries

These injuries of the tendons, ligaments and muscles, are the most common in vehicle accidents. They include tears, sprains, strains and general soreness. Whiplash is the most common named injury which generally occurs in rear-end and sudden impact collisions causing the occupant to have his neck jerked suddenly. Whiplash symptoms include: neck pain, stiffness, headache, burning sensations, shoulder and back pain and dizziness. Soft tissue injuries can often take a substantial amount of time to heal.

Dislocations

Sudden vehicle deceleration is the culprit in many vehicle crash injuries and when there is injury it usually includes dislocations. A dislocation occurs when there is an abnormal separation in the joint, where two or more bones meet. There may be a partial or total dislocation and either will occur due to sudden trauma on the joint when a body part makes an impact with a part of the vehicle. They can occur in any joint and can cause damage to the surrounding ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves. Dislocations can be serious injuries that can involve the spine.

 Internal Injuries

Can occur to the bowels, kidneys, the spleen, liver, lungs, heart or aorta. They are common in in serious vehicle accidents where the vehicle decelerates quickly. Another common occurrence is fractured ribs causing punctured lungs and other internal organs. The challenge with these types of injuries is often the most serious injuries have the smallest amount of pain or discomfort. So, in the event of a serious accident it is imperative that the occupants be taken to a hospital for a full diagnosis of any injuries by a medical professional.

Broken bones

Vehicle accidents are breeding ground for broken bones. Typical breaks can vary from cracked ribs to more serious ones that may require surgery, physical therapy, and long-term recovery. If there is rolling or compacting of the vehicle, there is a higher likelihood of broken bones and in many cases if the breaks are severe, they can lead to permanent loss of function.