HEALTHY LIVING Pros and Cons of Cannabis


It can relieve pain . . . and land you in the emergency room. ::


BY VERA TWEED P


opularity of cannabis has been growing in recent years among older Americans, especially for relief from chronic conditions such as pain, insomnia, or anxiety.


But visits to emergency rooms have increased sharply


for side effects, such as heart palpitations, anxiety, dizziness, falls, confusion, panic attacks, and worsening asthma or COPD. A study at the University


of California San Diego found that emergency room visits by Californian adults ages 65 and older has risen by more than 1,800%, from 366 in 2005 to 12,167 in 2019. “As a geriatrician, I worry


most about the exacerbation of existing chronic diseases, including chronic lung or heart disease, and drug-drug interactions,” lead study author Benjamin Han, M.D., tells Newsmax. Drug interactions are not fully known yet. If you use or want to try cannabis, make sure to tell your doctor.


TWO TYPES There are two active substances available from the cannabis plant: THC and CBD. Each works differently. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is believed to be the


main ingredient in marijuana that produces a “high,” as well as unwanted psychoactive effects, memory loss, and heart palpitations. This is the form that likely leads to


What to Know Before Surgery


emergency-room visits. “THC can spike the stress hormone, cortisol,” says


Branson Collins, M.D., director of integrative health at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. And a spike in cortisol can increase blood pressure. “If somebody has a history of borderline high or high


blood pressure,” he tells Newsmax, “they certainly should measure their blood pressure to make sure that the particular formulation that they’re consuming isn’t giving them hypertension.” Increasing appetite during cancer therapy and wasting from AIDS is a major benefit of THC. And it reduces pain, especially during cancer treatment. The other active ingredient


in cannabis, CBD (cannabidiol), has a calming, anti-inflammatory effect that may help to reduce anxiety, inflammation, and pain. It also helps to balance the


immune system and relieve autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and lupus. A prescription form of CBD,


Epidiolex, is FDA-approved for treating epileptic seizures. CBD can alter levels of chemotherapy drugs, so it’s


vital to tell your doctor if you want to use it during cancer treatment.


SAFETY TIPS Collins recommends choosing products that have been tested by a third party and certified as being free of contaminants, such as mold or heavy metals. And start with the lowest possible dose to see how


Cannabis use has been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular and neurological problems after surgery,” says Samer Narouze, M.D., Ph.D., president


of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine and chairman of the Center for Pain Medicine at Western Reserve Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. In addition, he tells Newsmax, “Cannabis use has also been linked to increased


you react. The fastest-acting forms are sublingual tinctures, which dissolve under the tongue and are absorbed by saliva, and inhaled forms. However, smoking or vaping cannabis is not recommended for anyone with asthma or COPD. If you take a THC lozenge, gummy,


pain after surgery, and dificulty controlling immediate pain after procedures.” Although not every surgical patient will experience adverse effects of cannabis,


Narouze recommends always telling your doctor, before any surgery, if you’ve been using any type of cannabis product, why, how often, in what form, and when you last used it.


86 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | AUGUST 2024


or other edible form, it takes 30 to 60 minutes for effects to manifest. Taking more during that time


lag, because nothing seems to be happening, can lead to an unintentional overload and adverse effects.


KITREEL/SHUTTERSTOCK


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