With the passing of Bill C-45 and the announcement of the legalization and controlled sale of marijuana beginning on October 17 2018, doctors are reminding the public that this drug is not guaranteed safe to use by everyone. Public health officers mainly highlight the dangers of becoming dependent on the drug and requiring consistent use of it to feel positive emotion – or to avoid feeling negative emotion.

 

Vanessa Markov of Toronto is a first-hand example of this. After smoking marijuana consistently for many years she began to experience anxiety and symptoms of depression. She did not immediately attribute it to her drug usage. “It’s not a solution to your anxiety, your social anxieties, your feelings. You know it will make you feel better for a short period of time, but you will notice after a while that it’s going to start impeding on your ability to actually enjoy life,” Markov says.

 

The effects of marijuana on the brain are especially pronounced in younger people, those under the age of 25. Because the brain is still developing before this age, cannabis can cause changes in the part of the brain that makes decisions and manages judgement. In some extreme cases, cannabis use has contributed to the development of psychosis in some people.

 

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People who stick to five healthy habits in adulthood may add more than a decade to their lives. Compared with people who adopted none, men and women who adhered to all five saw their life expectancy rise an extra 12 years for men and 14 for women.

A major study conducted by researchers at Harvard University evaluated the medical records and lifestyle questionnaires of 123,000 volunteers. Their goal was to analyze certain aspects of their health (for example diet, exercise regime, smoking status) and draw conclusions about their life expectancy based on these factors.

 

“When we embarked on this study, I thought, of course, that people who adopted these habits would live longer. But the surprising thing was how huge the effect was,” stated Mike Stampfer, a co-author on the study and professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.

 

One of the main motivators for researchers to undertake this study is revealing why the U.S. spends more on healthcare than any other nation (as a proportion of GDP), yet still only ranks 31^st globally for life expectancy. The main factor to point the finger at is that only 8% of the population evaluated followed all 5 healthy life habits, which are:

• Having at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day
• Not smoking
• Having a BMI between 18.5 and 25
• Having a diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, while limiting sugar, saturated fats and red meat
• And consuming no more than one 150ml glass of wine for women, or two for men

Although these habits are not shortcuts to a long-life, following them will help you improve your fitness and live happier. It is never too late to make changes that will help you reap long-term benefits.

 

To read the full study breakdown, click here.

 

For the source article, click here.

An estimated 1.5 percent of the adult population is affected by fibromyalgia in Canada. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) affects approximately 1.4 percent of Canadian adults. Both disorders share similar symptoms. Most experts agree that these two conditions are probably related; however, some believe they may actually be the same illness.

 

 

If you suffer from pain an fatigue caused by fibromyalgia, read up on these 7 tips to help manage your symptoms:

1. Assess symptoms on a day-to-day basis.

People with fibromyalgia and CFS experience varying levels of pain and fatigue, including periods of remission. Assess your condition each morning, and try to adjust your plans accordingly. When you don’t sleep well, engage in less activity. When you feel well-rested and pain is tolerable, do more. Moderation is key.

 

2. Get regular exercise.

When you’re tired or in pain, moving might be the last thing you feel like doing. However, regular, moderate exercise can contribute toward alleviating pain symptoms, reducing stress, and helping with sleep. Pace yourself, based on how you are feeling each day.

 

3. Use massage to treat pain.

Massage is a proven way to reduce stress and muscle pain. It can be used to improve range of motion and treat depression and anxiety.

 

4. Apply heat.

Heat boosts blood flow and can help to relieve stiff and sore muscles. Apply a warm, moist washcloth; have a hot shower, or soak in the bathtub. You can also treat deep muscle pain caused by fibromyalgia with an ice pack.

 

5. Try alternative therapies.

Some people find that alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, can help with fatigue and pain, but studies show mixed results. To find out more about alternative therapies, speak to a healthcare practitioner.

 

6. Prioritize sleep.

Both fibromyalgia and CFS can make sleep difficult. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day—and avoiding naps—can help. Some people find that having a relaxing bedtime routine can make falling asleep easier. This could include taking a warm bath or reading before bedtime.

 

7. Say no to excessive engagements.

Learning how to say no is important in minimizing stress, coping with fatigue, and dealing with pain. Living with CFS or fibromyalgia means accepting that you might not be able to accept every social invitation. Similarly, you might not be able to take on extra responsibilities at work.

 

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Gout refers to a type of arthritis that is caused by too much uric acid in the bloodstream. In most cases, the kidneys can filter out the extra uric acid through the urine. However, if too much uric acid remains in the body, it can form hard crystals in the joints.

 

 

These crystals can cause swelling and pain. The big toe is most often affected, but other joints can be affected too. A gout attack can come on suddenly, and cause a burning sensation that is extremely painful. Gout isn’t necessarily caused by a single factor. Uric acid is produced by the body, and it also comes from the diet.

 

The most common symptom of gout is pain, tenderness, and swelling in the big toe. Such pain usually occurs at night. Some people experience gout attacks in the foot, ankle, knees, or other joints. The first 36 hours are the most painful, but it may be up to 10 days before the pain goes away. Sometimes, another attack doesn’t occur for months or years.

 

You should see your doctor even if the pain from a gout attack has subsided. The uric acid in the joints can still cause harm, even if you do not experience immediate pain.

 

For more information about gout and tips to help manage symptoms, visit the JoinAStudy.ca health blog here.

A team of researchers has successfully treated rats with drinking disorders by injecting them with stem cells taken from humans. The rats had previously consumed the human equivalent of over one bottle of vodka every day for up to 17 weeks under free choice conditions, meaning the rats were never forced to consume the alcohol (but were selectively bred to prefer alcohol). After being injected with the stem cells, the rats chose to drink the alcohol 90% less on average.

 

Alcohol abuse and related disorders are an increasing issue in society and are a major contributor to pre-mature death worldwide. The objective of this study was to lay early ground work for finding a new therapy to treat alcoholism. Here is a quote from Yedy Israel, Professor at the University of Chile and the team lead for the study:

 

“After three months of chronic drinking, the animals were completely deprived of alcohol for two weeks. At the end of this period, they were given alcohol for only 60 minutes. Typically, the animals would engage in binge-like drinking during this short period, consuming the human equivalent of about eight standard drinks. Animals that had received the small-sized mesenchymal stem cells treatment consumed much less, levels comparable to that of a social drinker.”

 

Yedy and his team are now entering the process of finding partners to help transfer this study over to analysis of human participants.

 

For the full article, click here.

 

To read more about the study, click here.