Latest news with #NationalJewishHealth
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Smoking weed and consuming THC-laced edibles linked to early heart disease, study finds
Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being. Healthy people who regularly smoked marijuana or consumed THC-laced edibles showed signs of early cardiovascular disease similar to tobacco smokers, a new small study found. 'To my knowledge, it's the first study looking at THC's impact on vascular function in humans,' said senior study author Matthew Springer, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. 'We're looking at a window in the future, showing the early changes that may explain why smoking marijuana has been linked to later heart disease,' Springer said. 'It appears the act of smoking and the THC itself both contribute to those changes in different ways.' Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the component of marijuana that provides a high. Prior research on mice found damage to blood vessels that supply oxygen to vital organs after exposure to marijuana smoke, Springer said. Whether marijuana smoke would impact the human vascular system, however, was unknown. 'We found that vascular function was reduced by 42% in marijuana smokers and by 56% in THC-edible users compared to nonusers,' lead study author Dr. Leila Mohammadi, an assistant researcher in cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco, said in an email. The research only shows an association, Springer said. 'We can only state that the cannabis users have poor vascular function, not that cannabis use causes poor vascular function,' he said via email. The findings on THC-laced edibles was surprising, said Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver. 'Could it be that other forms of marijuana — teas, tinctures, edibles — are perhaps not as benign as we once thought?' said Freeman, who was not involved in the study. 'We need larger studies to make a better conclusion about this finding.' A single layer of endothelial cells lines all of the body's blood vessels. When functioning properly, these specialized cells release chemicals such as nitric oxide that control the relaxing and contracting of the canal, thus regulating blood flow. Healthy endothelium cells also play a role in local cell growth and help prevent blood clotting. When endothelial cells are inflamed, plaque buildup can increase in arteries over time, potentially causing heart attacks, strokes and heart failure. Damage to small blood vessels can also cause kidney and lung disease, comas, delirium, and dementia. The study, however, did not measure plaque, so the findings do not mean that blood vessels were currently blocked, Springer said. 'The vessels just don't grow in diameter in real time when they need to pass more blood, indicating an unhealthy vessel wall that presages later cardiovascular disease,' he said. Prior studies have found strong links between marijuana use and later cardiovascular disease. A February 2024 study found smoking, vaping or eating marijuana led to a significantly higher risk of heart attack and stroke, even if a person had no existing heart conditions and did not smoke or vape tobacco. Stroke risk rose 42% and the risk of heart attack rose 25% if cannabis was used daily, and risk climbed as the number of days of use of marijuana rose, the study found. Using marijuana every day can raise a person's risk of coronary artery disease by one-third compared with those who never partake, a February 2023 study found. The American Heart Association advises people to refrain from smoking or vaping any substance, including cannabis products, because of the potential harm to the heart, lungs and blood vessels. Guidance released in 2020 pointed to studies that found heart rhythm abnormalities, such as tachycardia and atrial fibrillation, could occur within an hour after weed containing THC was smoked. The 55 participants in the study were divided into three groups: people who smoked (not vaped) marijuana three or more times a week for at least a year, people who consumed THC edibles at least three times a week for at least a year, and nonusers. None of the 18- to 50-year-old people in the study were tobacco smokers or vapers, and all had little exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke. Researchers performed an ultrasound on the major artery in the upper right arm in each person, then applied an extremely tight blood pressure cuff for five minutes. After the cuff was removed, the artery was rescanned to see how well it had dilated, or widened, to handle the increased flow of blood, a process that needs the release of nitric oxide to occur. Damage to the endothelial cells that regulate dilation was related to the dose, according to the study. Study participants who used more marijuana had a greater risk of damage to blood vessels that carry oxygen to the body's organs. 'Higher cannabis use — whether smoked or ingested — is associated with poorer vascular function, highlighting the cardiovascular risks that increase with higher potency and frequency of use,' Mohammadi said. Additional tests of the neck and thigh checked the stiffness of each person's blood pressure walls. Compared with people who never used marijuana, cannabis users didn't appear to have additional stiffness of the walls of blood vessels, the study found. A separate analysis added blood serum from cannabis smokers and edible users to commercially purchased cultures of endothelial cell in the laboratory. Blood from people who used edibles laced with THC didn't appear to harm the cells — they continued to produce adequate nitric oxide. However, the endothelial cells incubated in serum from marijuana smokers released 27% less nitric oxide than those treated with blood from nonsmokers. That evidence is similar to what is found in tobacco, Springer said, pointing to a prior study by his team showing endothelial cells incubated in serum from tobacco smokers released 39% less nitric oxide than nonsmokers. 'The observations that marijuana smokers and THC users each have poor vascular function might make people conclude that the THC is responsible for all of this and the smoke is irrelevant,' Springer said. That would be an ill-advised conclusion, according to Springer, as there are reasons to believe that marijuana smoke itself is as responsible as THC for the damage to blood vessels. 'Rats exposed to marijuana smoke with no cannabinoids at all also had vascular and cardiac impairment, plus tobacco smoke is known to cause heart disease and it has no THC,' Springer said. 'So you do yourself no favors by switching from smoking tobacco to marijuana. Smoking marijuana just gives you a double hit — the smoke and the THC,' he said. As for marijuana edibles, teas, tinctures and the like? 'In people, there's like a Goldilocks zone for everything — too much doesn't do right, too little doesn't do right, but just right does fine,' Freeman said. 'We need further investigations to see if there is a Goldilocks zone to be found.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Civil Rights Movement icon Andrew Young honored in Midtown Atlanta
It was a night of singing, fundraising, and honor for civil rights icon Andrew Young. The 93-year-old was recognized Monday in front of nearly 200 people. They gathered to pay tribute to the former ambassador, congressman, and Atlanta mayor. The event also raised money for National Jewish Health -- a nonprofit hospital dedicated to improving research and treatment for respiratory patients. The former UN Ambassador told Channel 2's Cory James those are topics he understands. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'All my life I have been involved in immunizations,' said Young. 'I went with Ted Turner all over Africa, because we were trying to make sure we wiped out polio all over the world, and the same thing with Jimmy Carter.' Some of the distinguished guests included former Atlanta mayors Keisha Lance Bottoms, Shirley Franklin, and Kasim Reed. Mayor Andre Dickens was also there. He said Ambassador Young is 'somebody that I look up to; he cares about people's health, he cares about their quality and their justice.' National Jewish Health said more than $400,000 was raised for the nonprofit hospital that works to improve medical research and treatment for patients with respiratory illnesses. TRENDING STORIES: GA student taken into ICE custody after traffic stop pulled over by mistake, police say Georgia's Most Wanted Georgia AG announces Brookhaven woman convicted in $305K Medicaid fraud scheme [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Federal Medicaid cuts threaten child health in Montana
National Jewish Health registered nurse Lindsay Waldman, left, prepares to administer a pediatric COVID-19 vaccine to Emma Waas, 5, as her father, Andy Waas, comforts her on Nov. 3, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccine for the 28 million children aged 5-11 years old. (Photo by) Congress is moving forward with a budget package likely to include severe cuts to Medicaid and CHIP (the Children's Health Insurance Program, which funds Healthy Montana Kids). As Montana pediatricians, we know that cutting Medicaid to this extent won't just affect children covered by Medicaid. It will be felt by every child, in every community. Picture this: your child was just diagnosed with a life-altering chronic disease, but there is no specialty care available in the state. Or your newborn arrived earlier than expected, and there's not a NICU bed available due to a hospital's cuts to capacity. Cuts to Medicaid and Healthy Montana Kids make these situations ever more likely. These programs are deeply important to the health of the children in the state. Medicaid and Healthy Montana Kids provide coverage for more than 94,000 children throughout Montana. Medicaid coverage for kids also makes the difference between local hospitals having pediatric services and not having them. Medicaid covers 40% of births in Montana and 58% of children with special health care needs and disabilities, which means it is a critical source of funding for hospitals and clinics that provide pediatric services. Significant cuts such as those currently proposed would push many past the tipping point – directly resulting in an increased number of children and their families who need to leave Montana in order to treat life-threatening or chronic illnesses. Infrastructure for critically ill children in particular is fragile. There are only three small pediatric intensive care units in the state, and upending one of these hospital systems with funding cuts could mean closing one or more of these units, leaving Montana with even less access to stabilization of pediatric patients having an emergency. As pediatricians, we want to avoid seeing families lose insurance coverage and hospitals lose services. And even more than that: We want to make sure we're investing in our children. Evidence shows that Medicaid funding has long-term benefits. Children covered by Medicaid miss fewer school days, are more likely to graduate high school, be healthier adults and earn higher wages. In fact, this year Montana's state legislature has just reauthorized a Medicaid program covering 75,000 adults. A bipartisan majority recognized the importance of good health to Montana's working families, as well as Medicaid's significant long-term benefits to the state economy and rural health care infrastructure. This is a program that does so much good for so many people. We cannot afford to make the slashing cuts proposed right now in Congress. Pediatricians urge Montana's Congressional delegation to protect Medicaid and Healthy Montana Kids in the federal budget. We also urge our fellow Montanans to reach out and tell them how important Medicaid is to you and your family. Our children deserve access to health care when they need it — and to a healthy future. This was written by the executive committee of the Montana Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics which includes: Dr. Atty Moriarty, President (Missoula) Dr. Patricia Notario, Vice President (Billings) Dr. Angie Ostrowski, Secretary Treasurer (Billings) Dr. Lauren McGovern (Missoula) Dr. Lynn Wood (Billings) Dr. Allison Young (Missoula) Dr. Shaina Rogers (Bozeman) Dr. Erin Allen (Billings) Ericca Berry DNP (Glendive) Dr. Julie Campbell (Kalispell/Missoula) Dr. Kathryn Lysinger (Missoula) Dr. Kaitlyn Heuberger (Billings) Dr. Melody Cunningham (Missoula) Dr. Lauren Wilson (Missoula) Kylee Bodley, Executive Director (Billings)
CNN
11-04-2025
- Health
- CNN
Mediterranean diet and exercise improve bone density in older women, study finds
Summary Older women following a reduced-calorie Mediterranean diet with exercise improved bone density over three years. The combination prevented bone deterioration typically associated with weight loss, according to JAMA Network Open research. The Mediterranean diet provides nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and vitamin D that promote bone health. Half of participants ages 55 to 75 walked 45 minutes daily six days a week and performed strength exercises three times weekly. The Mediterranean diet has previously been linked to reduced risk of breast cancer, dementia, diabetes and memory loss. Older women who stayed on a reduced-calorie Mediterranean diet, walked and did resistance training for three years improved their bone density, especially in their lower backs, a new study found. 'A reduced-energy Mediterranean diet involves participants consuming a modified version of the traditional Mediterranean diet with approximately 30% fewer calories than their usual intake,' said coauthor Jesús Francisco García-Gavilán, a senior biostatistician at the University Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Women in the study, who ranged in age from 55 to 75, were also able to prevent bone deterioration that typically occurs during weight loss, according to the research published Tuesday in the journal JAMA Network Open. 'Previous research has indicated that losing weight, particularly through diet alone, can lead to a reduction in bone density, which poses risks for older adults. Additionally, exercising alone does not always prevent this issue,' García-Gavilán said in an email. 'What is new in this study is the finding that combining a well-balanced, reduced-calorie Mediterranean diet with physical activity can prevent bone loss in older women, even while they are losing weight,' he said. 'This emphasizes that the type of diet is important during weight loss, not just the calorie intake.' The results of the study are not that surprising, said Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver. 'When you practice the lifestyle that human beings were always meant to live, which is moving a lot and eating predominantly simple, plant-based foods, all sorts of systems get better, including bone density,' said Freeman, who was not involved in the new research. The new study is part of the PREDIMED-Plus trial, a randomized clinical trial on lifestyle interventions conducted in 23 medical centers and hospitals in Spain. The trial included 924 older adults with metabolic syndrome who were overweight or had obesity. Half were randomized to eating a Mediterranean diet with no restrictions on calories and no requirement to exercise. The other half were encouraged to walk for a minimum of 45 minutes per day six days per week and to do strength, flexibility and balance exercises three days per week. Their diet was cut to about 30% fewer calories than they typically consumed and only from a Mediterranean-style eating plan. Women in this group saw significantly stronger bones at one year and at three years into the study. 'While previous results from the PREDIMED-Plus trial highlighted benefits for maintaining lean mass and losing weight, this is the first publication to demonstrate that these lifestyle changes can also help preserve bone density, especially in older women,' García-Gavilán said. The award-winning Mediterranean diet features simple, plant-based cooking, with much of each meal focused on fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans and seeds, with a few nuts and a heavy emphasis on extra-virgin olive oil. Fats other than olive oil, such as butter, are consumed rarely, if at all, and sugar and refined foods are avoided. Red meat is used sparingly, often only to flavor a dish. Eating healthy, oily fish, which are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, is encouraged, while eggs, dairy and poultry are eaten in much smaller portions than in the traditional Western diet. Eating the Mediterranean way has been linked to reductions in the risk for breast cancer, dementia, depression, diabetes, high cholesterol and memory loss. Adherence to the diet can also lead to a healthier heart, weight loss and longer life. But exactly why would the meal plan help preserve bone? 'The Mediterranean diet is rich in nutrients that promote bone health,' García-Gavilán said. 'Nuts and dairy products provide essential calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D. Healthy fats, such as those found in olive oil, have been shown to reduce inflammation.' Antioxidants such as vitamin C from fruits and vegetables may help protect and support bone cells, García-Gavilán added, while other important vitamins, like vitamin K found in vegetables such as spinach, play a role in bone formation. 'Together, these nutrients can lower the risk of bone loss and support bone maintenance, especially as we age,' García-Gavilán said. 'Understanding this nutritional context is crucial for maintaining our long-term quality of life.'
CNN
11-04-2025
- Health
- CNN
Mediterranean diet and exercise improve bone density in older women, study finds
Summary Older women following a reduced-calorie Mediterranean diet with exercise improved bone density over three years. The combination prevented bone deterioration typically associated with weight loss, according to JAMA Network Open research. The Mediterranean diet provides nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and vitamin D that promote bone health. Half of participants ages 55 to 75 walked 45 minutes daily six days a week and performed strength exercises three times weekly. The Mediterranean diet has previously been linked to reduced risk of breast cancer, dementia, diabetes and memory loss. Older women who stayed on a reduced-calorie Mediterranean diet, walked and did resistance training for three years improved their bone density, especially in their lower backs, a new study found. 'A reduced-energy Mediterranean diet involves participants consuming a modified version of the traditional Mediterranean diet with approximately 30% fewer calories than their usual intake,' said coauthor Jesús Francisco García-Gavilán, a senior biostatistician at the University Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Women in the study, who ranged in age from 55 to 75, were also able to prevent bone deterioration that typically occurs during weight loss, according to the research published Tuesday in the journal JAMA Network Open. 'Previous research has indicated that losing weight, particularly through diet alone, can lead to a reduction in bone density, which poses risks for older adults. Additionally, exercising alone does not always prevent this issue,' García-Gavilán said in an email. 'What is new in this study is the finding that combining a well-balanced, reduced-calorie Mediterranean diet with physical activity can prevent bone loss in older women, even while they are losing weight,' he said. 'This emphasizes that the type of diet is important during weight loss, not just the calorie intake.' The results of the study are not that surprising, said Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver. 'When you practice the lifestyle that human beings were always meant to live, which is moving a lot and eating predominantly simple, plant-based foods, all sorts of systems get better, including bone density,' said Freeman, who was not involved in the new research. The new study is part of the PREDIMED-Plus trial, a randomized clinical trial on lifestyle interventions conducted in 23 medical centers and hospitals in Spain. The trial included 924 older adults with metabolic syndrome who were overweight or had obesity. Half were randomized to eating a Mediterranean diet with no restrictions on calories and no requirement to exercise. The other half were encouraged to walk for a minimum of 45 minutes per day six days per week and to do strength, flexibility and balance exercises three days per week. Their diet was cut to about 30% fewer calories than they typically consumed and only from a Mediterranean-style eating plan. Women in this group saw significantly stronger bones at one year and at three years into the study. 'While previous results from the PREDIMED-Plus trial highlighted benefits for maintaining lean mass and losing weight, this is the first publication to demonstrate that these lifestyle changes can also help preserve bone density, especially in older women,' García-Gavilán said. The award-winning Mediterranean diet features simple, plant-based cooking, with much of each meal focused on fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans and seeds, with a few nuts and a heavy emphasis on extra-virgin olive oil. Fats other than olive oil, such as butter, are consumed rarely, if at all, and sugar and refined foods are avoided. Red meat is used sparingly, often only to flavor a dish. Eating healthy, oily fish, which are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, is encouraged, while eggs, dairy and poultry are eaten in much smaller portions than in the traditional Western diet. Eating the Mediterranean way has been linked to reductions in the risk for breast cancer, dementia, depression, diabetes, high cholesterol and memory loss. Adherence to the diet can also lead to a healthier heart, weight loss and longer life. But exactly why would the meal plan help preserve bone? 'The Mediterranean diet is rich in nutrients that promote bone health,' García-Gavilán said. 'Nuts and dairy products provide essential calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D. Healthy fats, such as those found in olive oil, have been shown to reduce inflammation.' Antioxidants such as vitamin C from fruits and vegetables may help protect and support bone cells, García-Gavilán added, while other important vitamins, like vitamin K found in vegetables such as spinach, play a role in bone formation. 'Together, these nutrients can lower the risk of bone loss and support bone maintenance, especially as we age,' García-Gavilán said. 'Understanding this nutritional context is crucial for maintaining our long-term quality of life.'
