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Anorexia

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by abnormally low body weight and body dysmorphia, a distorted body image. Individuals suffering from anorexia are stuck in a repeating cycle of self-starvation or purging food because they have an extreme fear of gaining weight. Their obsession with their weight, and what they eat disrupts their life and negatively affects their health. This distorted body image also has a negative effect on the person’s self-esteem.

Anorexia is a psychological eating disorder caused by a mix of genetic, environmental, and psychological
factors. Anorexia may be associated with a stressful life event, a lack of support, or weight-based
teasing that the individual has experienced. A perceived lack of control in one’s life may be a trigger, so
an anorexic may assert control in their life through the controlling of food intake. Trying to maintain weight for a sport or activity may be a trigger for athletes that become anorexics. The rising numbers of female patients with anorexia may, in part, also be due to the constant exposure to societal or Hollywood beauty standards which utilize heavy filters, which drive need to achieve an unrealistic ideal of the female body type.

There are two types of Anorexia: restriction of how much one eats, and bulimic, where food is binge eaten and then purged. The restrictor individuals starve themselves primarily by limiting their intake of food and missing meals. The unrealistic perception of their body image may also drive them to exercise too frequently. The bulimic individuals induce vomiting to purge any food eaten, use laxatives, as well as appetite suppressants to curb appetite in order to keep their weight in check.

Anorexics are predominantly grossly underweight with respect to their age and gender, but they
consider themselves to be fat or overweight. Although men and women of any age can suffer with anorexia, it’s most common in young women and typically starts during adolescence. Youth with anorexia may not meet developmental weight gain milestones so their height and weight will be below normal; and adults will have an uncharacteristically low BMI, Body Mass Index.

The extreme weight loss can create a cascade of physical problems. Long-term starvation depletes the
body of its essential nutrients, so the first organ to be affected is the brain. Anorexics may be fatigued,
lethargic, and irritable. They may have difficulty sleeping which may lead to erratic thoughts, and an
inability to concentrate. After depletion of the body’s fat stores, patients begin to waste as muscle is
broken down for energy. The malnutrition will affect growth; therefore, these patients have a frail, thin
appearance with thinning hair which may fall out. Hormonal imbalance is common in chronic anorexics,
with adolescent girls even missing their period.

The constant vomiting leads to gastroesophageal reflux, persistent stomach discomfort, and bacterial
infections. The induced vomiting can erode teeth and the lining of the esophagus causing bleeding. Anorexia may even damage the heart. The starvation can create dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and irregular heart rhythms which may cause dizziness and fainting spells. Intolerance of cold can be a symptom of low blood pressure common in this disease.

Typical symptoms of those suffering from Anorexia include:

• Hiding food

• A refusal to eat or denial of hunger

• Skipping meals

• Developing feeding rituals

• Obsession with food preparation

• Spitting food out after chewing

• Repeatedly stepping on the scale to check weight

• Lying about the amount of food eaten

How can Medical Marijuana Help Patients with Arthritis?

Medical Marijuana is a useful tool in the medical management of many types of arthritis. Numerous studies reveal that cannabinoids may be beneficial in the management of pain and inflammation associated with this diagnosis. Marijuana produces anti-inflammatory effects by activating CB 2 cannabinoid receptors which decrease cytokine production and modulates immune cell mobilization. Marijuana may also be useful in treating the depression and anxiety frequently experienced by patients diagnosed with a chronic condition such as arthritis.

Arthritis

Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints. The primary symptoms of arthritis are redness, swelling, joint pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion. Symptoms will typically worsen with age. There are many types of arthritis. The severity of symptoms can vary and depending on the type of arthritis one is suffering from, other organs, like eyes, heart, or skin, can also be affected. 

Risk factors for arthritis include:

• Family history. Some types of arthritis are genetic, making it more likely for a person to develop arthritis if their parents or siblings have the condition.
• Age. The risk of several types of arthritis increases with age. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout are examples of this.
• Your sex. Some types of arthritis are more prominent in one sex versus the other. For example, men are more likely to be diagnosed with gout, while women are more likely than men to develop rheumatoid arthritis. 
• Previous joint injury. Those who experience an injury impacting a joint, have a higher chance of eventually developing arthritis in that joint.
• Obesity. Carrying excess weight causes strain and stress on joints, which is associated with a higher risk of developing arthritis.

Since there are many different types of arthritis, each with unique causes and treatments, it is important for medical providers to diagnose the specific type of arthritis to ensure the proper treatment is received. Being aware of risk factors, symptoms, and use of the appropriate treatment options can help patients achieve the best outcomes possible. Fortunately, even with an arthritis diagnosis, it is entirely possible to lead an active and productive life.

Cachexia

AKA: Wasting Syndrome

Cachexia is a condition in which a patient will undergo excessive weight loss, muscle loss and fat loss.  This condition is often secondary to another disease like Anorexia, HIV/AIDS and cancer.  Cachexia can occur in elderly patients with no known underlying causes.  The effects of cachexia include inability to concentrate, fatigue, depression and overall diminished quality of life.

How can Medical Marijuana Help Patients with Cachexia?

The primary use of Medical Marijuana in treating Cachexia is its ability to stimulate appetite, resulting in increased caloric (food) intake.  It can also reduce vomiting and nausea and improve the effects of depression.  Higher THC strains of Medical Marijuana will tend to be the best options for treating patients with Cachexia. 

Cancer

Cancer can come in many forms and is characterized by abnormal cells developing and dividing in an uncontrolled manner in the human body.  Cancer can form almost anywhere in the body.  Cancer cells are invasive and continue to divide and increase in number.  Cancer can cause many symptoms from pain to changes in weight and fatigue.  Gene mutations are the cause of cancer.  Your family history and environmental factors will affect your chances of developing cancer. While some cancers can be cured, others can be fatal. Early detection and treatment can greatly improve a patient’s survival rate.

How can Medical Marijuana Help Patients with Cancer?

Studies in 2015 and 2016 found that CBD (a major chemical compound in Medical Marijuana) demonstrated an ability to inhibit the growth of tumor cells in animals. Medical marijuana is very effective at treating symptoms of cancer including alleviating fatigue, pain, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting and anxiety.  Furthermore, a 2012 study published in PubMed showed that conventional cancer treatment combined with cannabinoids (Chemical compounds in Medical Marijuana) had a synergistic effect against cancer and tumor cells.  This means that by combining conventional treatment with Medical Marijuana, patients may benefit more than from just conventional treatment alone. 

Chronic Pain

Pain or related symptoms lasting more than 3 months.

Any condition that results in pain, or related symptoms, that lasts more than 3 months may be considered a qualifying condition under chronic pain. The intensity of the pain as well as other symptoms resulting from the painful condition such as anxiety, depression and sleeplessness can be considered in the overall assessment by our physicians when conducting a patient interview. Furthermore, the cause of the chronic pain condition can be fairly broad and can include the following commonly encountered “head to toe” every day problems:

Headaches

Migraines, tension headaches, cluster headaches

Neck Pain

Muscle strains, herniated disks, and arthritis related conditions

Shoulder Pain

Labral tears, rotator cuff injuries, arthritis related conditions

Chest Pain

Rib and muscle injuries, chronic pain secondary to pulmonary and respiratory issues, heartburn and acid reflux

Arms/Hands

Muscle or tendon injuries, prior broken bones, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, any type of arthritis, vascular disease and Reynaud’s Syndrome/Disease.

Abdominal Pain

Inflammatory bowel disease, hernias, prior organ injuries or surgeries involving the liver, spleen or kidneys, mesenteric ischemia, Herpes Zoster and shingles

Pelvic Pain: Male

Kidney stones, Varicoceles, Prostrate related pain, testicular pain, inguinal hernias, pelvic nerve compression and SI joint pain

Pelvic Pain: Female

Menstrual cramps, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Endometriosis/Endometritis, Pelvic Congestion Syndrome, pain during sexual intercourse, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, pelvic nerve compression and SI joint pain

Legs

Hip and Knee pain or prior injuries, muscle or tendon strains, pulls, or tears, any broken bones, vascular pain secondary to poor circulation, Charley horse and cramps that become painful while walking or at night, restless leg syndrome

Neurological

Peripheral or diabetic neuropathy, sciatica, shingles, Lyme’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Epilepsy and Seizure disorders

Any Cancer or Surgical Related Pain

Any pain from cancer or surgical procedures

Foot and Ankle

Any type of tendon or bone injury, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon injury, bunions, ankle sprains and strains, prior foot surgeries, burning pain secondary to diabetic neuropathy

How Medical Marijuana Helps Patients with Chronic Pain

Medical Marijuana helps to control or block the pain associated with the possible causes listed above. If you have one or more of these Chronic Pain conditions, you may qualify for treatment with medical marijuana.

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Epilepsy and Seizure disorders

Epilepsy is a seizure disorder – the severity of the condition can vary.

Epilepsy is a seizure disorder; the severity of the condition can vary from patient to patient.  A seizure occurs in a patient when the body experiences an abnormal electrical storm in the brain.  This electrical storm causes the individual to experience changes in consciousness and sensation.  It manifests outwardly in a number of different ways including small eye flickers on the mild end to full body convulsions on the more severe end. 

How can Medical Marijuana Help Patients with Epilepsy and Seizure disorders?

THC and CBD, cannabinoids abundant in marijuana, exert their effects on both central and peripheral nervous systems. CBD specifically has shown promise in early research studies to have anti-seizure potential.   

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye disease that results in damage to the optic nerve causing vision loss.  Glaucoma can be broken down into two different types. Open-angle, which is the most common type, is caused when the drainage angle for fluid within the eye remains open.  This type of glaucoma happens over time and does not cause pain.  Peripheral vision will begin to decrease followed by central vision resulting in blindness if left untreated.  Closed-angle glaucoma can happen gradually or without warning. This type of glaucoma can cause severe pain, blurred vision, redness, dilated pupils and nausea. The risk factors include age, family history and prolonged steroid use.  Higher eye pressure has been shown to be connected to an increase in the tendency to develop glaucoma as well.  Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness.

How can Medical Marijuana Help Patients with Glaucoma?

Several studies have shown smoking marijuana can result in a decrease in eye pressure.  This is precisely the purpose of prescription medications given to those who suffer from glaucoma.  This makes medical cannabis a wonderful adjunct to traditional medicine or useful in cases where patients cannot tolerate traditional treatment.  The studies have shown the decrease in eye pressure can last on average 3 to 4 hours.  Future studies are looking at the effectiveness of edible forms to reduce eye pressures for longer durations.  Even further down the road will be research to understand what elements of medical cannabis result in the reduction of eye pressure. 

AIDS/HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a disease that can be treated but not cured.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a disease that can be treated but not cured. The disease attacks and destroys white blood cells known as T Cells that are needed to fight other diseases and infections.  The effect is a weakening of an infected person’s immune system.  This can cause someone with HIV to suffer from a variety of symptoms and medical conditions.  The current treatment for AIDS/HIV is Antiretroviral Therapy, also known as ART.  This can help slow and in some patients stop the progression of the disease. 

How can Medical Marijuana Help patients with HIV/AIDS?

Research from the University of Washington and the University of California concluded that the cannabinoids in medical marijuana may have immunological benefit by reducing the frequency of activated T Cells.  This in turn may reduce the patient’s risk of developing illnesses that can often complicate the health of HIV/AIDS patients. 

Migranes

Many people describe a migraine as a “bad headache”. However, migraines are ongoing health conditions associated with a complex set of symptoms. The symptoms may vary from person to person, but most commonly include headaches that keep coming back. The headaches are often described as severe and throbbing in nature and will typically happen on only one side of the head. Migraine sufferers will often experience additional symptoms like nausea, vomiting, mood changes, fatigue, and sensitivity to light, noise, or smells. These symptoms can happen all at once during a migraine episode, or individually in between episodes. Migraines can last from hours to days and make it difficult to complete everyday activities. Many individuals can predict when they will experience migraines and might have an aura prior to the onset of an episode. Aura symptoms typically involve changes in vision like seeing stars or spots. There are several things that can trigger migraines including stress, irregular sleep patterns, changes to weather or environment, medications, or hormonal imbalances. Additionally there are factors that may increase the chances of a person developing migraines. These include family history, biological sex, and even socioeconomic status. While there is currently no cure for migraines, proper treatment can make symptoms manageable.

How can Medical Marijuana Helps Patients with Migraines

A November 2019 study indicated that cannabis might reduce migraine and headache severity by as much as 50 percent and that cannabis use does not exacerbate headaches or migraines over time. Further evidence has shown that the endocannabinoid system can directly reduce migraine pain when activated by a patient using cannabis.

Multiple Sclerosis

A degenerative disease of the central nervous system

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system affecting the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Symptoms of MS vary in range from a single symptom to multiple symptoms and mild in intensity to severe. Symptoms can include pain, fatigue, muscle stiffness or spasms, tremors, inflammation, depression, loss of muscle coordination or bladder control.

MS is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system attacks the protective covering called myelin, that insulate nerve fibers. This myelin sheath enables the brain to communicate with the rest of the body by allowing electrical impulses to travel along the nerve fibers quickly and efficiently. When myelin is damaged, electrical impulses or communication from the brain to the body is slowed or blocked causing MS symptoms.

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How can Medical Marijuana Help Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?

Much of the data or research collected on the effects of medical marijuana on MS symptoms come from patient surveys, self-reported assessments and observational studies. Two active compounds found in medical marijuana that have been studied in the management of MS include tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).  According to a study published in American Academy of Neurology among patients from the University of Rochester MS Center, results found majority of subjects found medical marijuana helpful in managing symptoms such as spasticity and pain.  The study also reported more than half the subjects felt their quality of life improved with the use of medical marijuana. Another promising study published in 2016 in European Neurology studied patients with treatment-resistant MS spasticity.  Real-life data from the study confirmed that adding THC:CBD oromucosal spray was an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for those patients.

Severe Nausea

Nausea is a feeling of being queasy which causes the sensation of wanting to vomit the contents of the stomach. The effects of nausea are exerted on the gastrointestinal system, but nausea is induced by the “vomiting center” located in the 4th ventricle of the brain, near the brain stem. The 4th ventricle of the brain contains the chemoreceptor trigger zone. Once stimulated, it creates a difficult to ignore, discomforting uneasiness in the stomach. The symptoms of nausea include weakness, sweating, a buildup of saliva in your mouth, and the urge to vomit. Nausea is always a symptom and not a disease in itself. if you feel nauseous, there is always an underlying cause. Nausea is a protective mechanism that your body uses to avoid stimuli it deems harmful, like a particular food, chemical, or situation.

The physiological causes of nausea are multi-factorial, as nausea is a common symptom of many diseases and conditions, as with many gastrointestinal disorders. Nausea may also be caused by medications, especially chemotherapy in cancer patients. 70% of women experience nausea called morning sickness during pregnancy, which usually eases during the second trimester. Cholecystitis caused by gall stones blocking the bile duct can cause nausea and projectile vomiting. Seasickness, for example, follows a very different pathway than morning sickness or food poisoning. The vestibular system in your internal ear controls nausea related to dizziness after a rollercoaster ride, while the vomiting center in your brain controls the nausea you experience due to a stomach virus, food allergy, or a noxious smell.

For the most part, chemical signals or alkaloid compounds that are released in response to a stimulus act directly on receptors located in the brain’s 4th ventricle. When these receptors are activated, nausea results. Nausea can also have a psychological cause. Anxiety and nervousness often produce nausea because they activate brain regions that are close to the vomiting center of the brain. In this case, the nausea is not caused by an external stimulus, but an internal stimulus – your state of mind.

How can Medical Marijuana Help Patients with Severe Nausea?

Marijuana has widely been utilized medicinally to treat/reduce nausea. A study titled Antiemetic Efficacy of Smoked Marijuana stated that “marijuana significantly reduced ratings of “queasiness” and slightly reduced the incidence of vomiting compared to placebo”**. Cannabinoids in the cannabis plant have also been shown to be effective against chemotherapy-induced nausea. Cannabis can have similar effects to traditionally utilized antiemetics without the some of the risks associated with prescribed nausea medications.