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Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Smoking marijuana and eating cannabis gummies both linked to dangerous health risk, study finds
Long-term cannabis use in any form has been linked to a greater risk of heart disease. In a new study, researchers at UC San Francisco determined that eating edible cannabis, such as gummies, has the same impact on cardiovascular risk as smoking marijuana. The risk stems from reduced blood vessel function, according to the study, which was published in JAMA Cardiology on May 28. Heavy Cannabis Use Could Pose This Threat To The Brain The study included 55 people between 18 and 50 years of age who were "outwardly healthy." The participants were divided into three groups: those who regularly smoked marijuana, those who ate edibles containing THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), and those who didn't use cannabis, according to a UCSF press release. Read On The Fox News App The cannabis users had been consuming the substance at least three times weekly for at least one year. On average, the smokers had the habit for 10 years, while those consuming edibles had been doing so for five years, the release noted. In September 2024, the participants underwent testing to determine how well their blood vessels functioned and whether the cells lining the blood vessels were affected. Dementia Risk Connected To Cannabis-related Hospital Visits, Says Study All cannabis users were found to have "decreased vascular function," comparable to those who smoke tobacco. Their blood vessel function was roughly half compared to those who did not use cannabis. This side effect has been linked to a higher risk of heart attack, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular conditions, the researchers noted. The participants who smoked marijuana were also found to have changes in their blood serum that harmed cells lining their blood vessels and lymphatic vessels, an effect that was not seen in those who ate edible cannabis. The researchers noted that while smoking marijuana and consuming edibles both affect vascular function, they likely do so for different reasons. Shingles Vaccine Has Unexpected Effect On Heart Health "Chronic cannabis smoking and THC ingestion were associated with endothelial dysfunction [impaired functioning of the endothelial cells lining the inside of blood vessels] similar to that observed in tobacco smokers, although apparently occurring via distinct mechanisms," the researchers wrote. "This study enhances the understanding of the potential risks to vascular health linked to cannabis use and provides more evidence that cannabis use is not benign." Dr. Bradley Serwer, a Maryland-based cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company that offers cardiovascular and anesthesiology services to hospitals nationwide, said he was not surprised by the study's findings. "We have known that the chronic use of THC-containing compounds can have negative health consequences — this study just reaffirms those prior studies," Serwer, who was not involved in the UCSF research, told Fox News Digital. The study did have some limitations. "Variability in cannabis strains complicates standardization," the researchers wrote. "Self-reported cannabis use may introduce recall bias; thus, participants were queried at multiple points: in the online survey, at the eligibility interview and before each visit." It was also challenging to determine whether blood vessel function could have also been affected by lifestyle factors like stress, caffeine and secondhand smoke exposure, they noted. Serwer pointed out that this was a "very small" study of only 55 people, all living in the San Francisco Bay area. "The study did not allow for variability in the different strains of cannabis, and they used a self-reporting survey, which can be under- or over-reported," he told Fox News Digital. "They looked for physiologic endpoints and not hard endpoints, such as heart attacks, strokes or death. We have to infer that the physiologic endpoints would result in cardiovascular events." Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter The cardiologist said he agreed, however, with the conclusion that cannabis use is "not benign." "Chronic use does have potential cardiovascular risks," he warned. "There are therapeutic uses of cannabis, and the decision to use or avoid it should be made with all benefits and risks in mind." In general, Serwer said he cautions all of his patients to avoid any unnecessary cardiac risks. "As clinicians, we must weigh the benefits and the risks of a medicine/drug or intervention," he said. "If the risks outweigh the benefits, it should be avoided." For more Health articles, visit The study was funded mainly by the National Institute on Drug Abuse; the California Department of Cannabis Control; the California Tobacco-Related Disease Program; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; and the FDA Center for Tobacco Products. Fox News Digital reached out to cannabis industry organizations requesting article source: Smoking marijuana and eating cannabis gummies both linked to dangerous health risk, study finds
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A 58-year-old woman has died of a rare neurological condition. The cause of death? Being injected with hormones taken from a corpse.
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A woman in the U.S. has died from severe neurological symptoms that were caused by an abnormal protein — which she was unknowingly injected with nearly 50 years earlier. Having shown no neurological symptoms in the decades since the injection, the 58-year-old recently began experiencing tremors and changes in her ability to balance while walking. In the following weeks, she developed urinary incontinence, difficulty speaking and abnormal breathing. After being admitted to hospital, she entered a coma and later died, according to a case report published May 14 in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. A follow-up MRI scan while she was in hospital revealed damage to her brain, and further testing showed positive results for an abnormal protein called a prion. Prions are found in cell membranes, the wall that surrounds every one of our cells, and are thought to be one of the molecules involved in cellular communication and other interactions. Though prions can exist safely in the body, when these proteins accumulate in the brain they can cause surrounding proteins to contort and "misfold," damaging nerve cells. Infection with an abnormally 'folded' prion from an external source – like eating contaminated meat, as in the case of 'mad cow' disease – can also spark a chain of misfolding in the body. The brain damage caused by prion diseases is always fatal, with most patients dying within one year of first developing symptoms, according to Mayo Clinic. In this case, the woman was diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), an extremely rare and fatal brain wasting disease caused by prions. Related: Here's how dangerous, deadly prions spread to the brain It is thought the woman was given prion-infected hormones sometime between 1971 and 1980, while receiving treatment for a condition called panhypopituitarism. People with this condition have a lack of hormones produced by the pituitary gland, the organ that secretes a range of hormones including those involved in growth and sexual development. In the 1970s, panhypopituitarism was treated by injecting patients with human growth hormones extracted from the healthy pituitary glands of people who had died. At the time, this was common practice — as well as being used to treat pituitary conditions, hormones from cadavers were also given to women whose ovaries were not producing eggs. However, in 1985 researchers identified the first U.S. outbreak of CJD related to treatments with cadaver-derived growth hormones. The treatment was quickly suspended, and later a synthetic alternative hormone, produced by genetic engineering, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). RELATED STORIES — Alzheimer's comes in at least 5 distinct forms, study reveals — Shingles vaccine may directly guard against dementia, study hints — 13 proteins tied to brain aging seem to spike at ages 57, 70 and 78 So far, 0.4% of those treated in the U.S with growth hormones taken from the organs of deceased individuals have gone on to develop CJD. How these hormones were infected with prions is still unknown, and scientists cannot yet explain why there is such a long latency period between the infection and the symptoms arising. There is currently no treatment available to those with CJD, or any other form of prion disease. However, ongoing research projects seek to uncover treatments for the conditions. The researchers involved in the recent case study said that while the number of people developing CJD as a result of growth hormone treatment has slowed over the years, it is still possible that new cases will arise.
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Eamonn Holmes' health woes as he concerns fans by falling off chair live on air
Eamonn Holmes worried fans last week when he fell off his chair live on GB News after battling a number of serious health issues and chronic pain for years Eamonn Holmes has sadly been battling ill health for a number of years and concerned fans last week when he fell off his chair live on TV - despite insisting he was "fine". The popular presenter, 65, was in the middle of hosting GB News' breakfast show when he crashed to the ground as the programme quickly cut to a commercial break. Eamonn, who has had two hip replacements and is plagued with chronic back pain, could be heard saying: "I'm fine, fine fine, carry on, carry on" before quipping: "I'm alive.. They're very wonky wheels on chairs we've got here, as a matter of fact we don't really like the chairs here." However, he then admitted he was in "shock" as he shared that he'd recently fallen over in his bathroom, explaining: "I'd had a fall two weeks ago in his bathroom that hospitalised me and that hit me right in the back." Just two weeks ago, Eamonn revealed he had been rushed to hospital after experiencing a fall. In the caption, the star shared: "An unexpected journey this morning ….. bit of a fall on the bathroom floor. Gosh it hurts. Not how I wanted to be spending The Holiday weekend ..... but life's not easy these days." The veteran broadcaster has had a lengthy battle with illness and operations and is now forced to use an electric wheelchair. Here's a look at what he's sadly been dealing with... Double hip replacement Eamonn opened up about his "life-changing" hip replacement, which he had in 2016, after revealing he refused the surgery for three decades. Writing for The Telegraph, he said: "Waiting was the worst decision I ever made. After having both of mine replaced seven years ago, aged 55, I haven't had a single regret: in fact, it's been life-changing." The major surgery was carried out in a bid to tackle the Northern Irishman's excruciating hip, leg and back pain he had secretly suffered for more than 20 years. Eamonn was speaking about the surgery after Oasis frontman, Liam Gallagher, said he didn't want to have the operation himself because he was concerned about the 'stigma'. However, rather than judging the Beady Eye star, the presenter sympathised with Liam, saying: "In the newsroom, when we heard that he needed the operation due to arthritis, most of my colleagues laughed. They were all tickled by the idea of a rocker like him being confronted with being 'over the hill'– but I saw nothing remotely funny about it." Eamonn went on to reveal how he'd suffered pre-surgery, saying people who don't experience severe hip, leg or back pain aren't aware of how chronic it is, or "the sleepless nights or not being able to drive, let alone do anything more physically active." Shingles Eamonn was struck down with the viral infection that causes a painful rash in 2018, saying he looked "as if someone had taken a baseball bat to my face". The star believed his severe Shingles had been brought on by a "stressful tax row", which saw him battle with HMRC over whether he was classed as staff or a freelancer as a presenter at This Morning. "It was bloody scary to see it," he told The Sun. "It looked as if someone had taken a baseball bat to my face and smashed me about a bit." More terrifyingly, Eamonn said the infection could have caused him to go blind. "Blindness could have been a complication in my case," he said. "The doctor said it's really bad for you because it's around your eyes, and could be bad for your ophthalmic nerves. Medically, it was pretty serious." Spinal surgery In 2021, Eamonn told his followers: "Those of you who follow me on social media will know [that] about a month ago I did something to my back. I don't know how I did it – getting into the car, getting out of a car, getting out of bed, whatever. I've got an MRI scan, but the trouble is, everything closes for Easter, I haven't got it analysed yet, but what I do know is, I can't sleep at night." Eamonn revealed the pain in his back intensified during the night, and urged sufferers of chronic pain to talk to each other and consult medical experts. Eventually, the star discovered the cause of his pain was due to three slipped discs, which resulted in him needed spinal surgery in September 2022. However, after the operation, there was sadly more woe to come for Eamonn... Broken shoulder The veteran presenter admitted the spinal surgery he had in 2022 has set him back rather than improved his health as he returned to air on GB News show, Breakfast with Eamonn and Isabel, after taking several months off. Looking thoroughly fed up, he told viewers: "Basically, I can't walk. I can do everything... everything above here [gesturing to his waist] works, but it's the legs." Eamonn's co-host Isabel Webster said: "The op that you had has set you back, at the moment." Eamonn replied: "Yes, it's set me back and it made me fall down stairs. My leg gave way and I fell down 18 stairs. So I fell down the spiral staircase, smashed my right shoulder." The father-of-four added: "The first thing you did was lean on my shoulder" to which Isabel laughed: "I won't be doing that again or you'll be off for another four months." Needing a wheelchair Eamonn used to rely on a mobility scooter and shared a snap of himself sitting on the vehicle, eating an ice cream while on holiday in the US in 2023. Posting the photo, Eamonn wrote: "That was me on holiday last month in USA, getting around using my mobility scooter. 13 years since my spinal fusion." Speaking to Best magazine about the backlash his post caused, he said: "Some people were mocking me on social media... 'Oh, look at Eamonn, he's in a mobility scooter!' I replied, saying, 'I would prefer if I wasn't in it but how else would I have got around?' The alternative is I don't go anywhere, and I sit in my armchair, work in the office. So, I go out... It's mentally uplifting to get out." However, he is now using an electric wheelchair, which he was seen using at Heathrow Airport last year after returning from holiday with girlfriend, Katie Alexander. Despite some cruel comments about his new mode of transport, the majority of Eamonn's followers wished him well as one said: "Hope you are keeping well Eamonn. Wishing you all the love." While another: "Hope that you can manage your pain soon".
Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Eamonn Holmes' painful health battle leaves him asking fans to 'pray for him'
GB News presenter Eamonn Holmes has opened up about his health struggles over the years and recently revealed that life was "not easy these days" after being taken to hospital via ambulance Eamonn Holmes has been inundated with support from fans after revealing he'd been rushed to hospital in an ambulance. The GB News presenter shared on social media that he'd been taken to hospital via ambulance following a fall at his home. Issuing the worrying health update, he wrote: 'An unexpected journey this morning ….. bit of a fall on the bathroom floor. Gosh it hurts . Thank you Ambulance crew.' In a follow up post, he added: "Not how I wanted to be spending The Holiday weekend ..... but life's not easy these days. Thanks to everybody who is looking after me." In response, Eamonn's fans were quick to show their support for the TV personality. 'Get well soon Big man, less dancing more singing in the bathroom from here on,' wrote one. 'Ohh Eammon! Hope you recover quickly. Best wishes,' commented another. But this isn't the first time that 65-year-old Eamonn has opened up about his health. Over the years, he has been candid about struggling with some serious health concerns. Hip replacement The TV star refused to have his hip replaced for three decades before finally undergoing surgery on both in 2016, aged 55. He went ahead with the major op to tackle the chronic hip, leg and back pain which caused him 'sleepless nights' and 'not being able to drive, let alone do anything more physically active'. Eamonn made a good recovery from his double hip replacement and went onto lose three stone in a battle to boost his health. He just wished he had had it done sooner. "Waiting was the worst decision I ever made," he told the Telegraph. "After having both of mine replaced seven years ago, aged 55, I haven't had a single regret: in fact, it's been life-changing." Shingles Eamonn was struck down with the viral infection that causes a painful rash in 2018, saying he looked 'as if someone had taken a baseball bat to my face'. The star believed his severe Shingles had been brought on by a 'stressful tax row' which saw him battle with HMRC over whether he was classed as staff or a freelancer as a presenter at This Morning. "It was bloody scary to see it," he told The Sun. "It looked as if someone had taken a baseball bat to my face and smashed me about a bit." More terrifyingly, Eamonn said the infection could have caused him to go blind. "Blindness could have been a complication in my case," he said. "The doctor said it's really bad for you because it's around your eyes, and could be bad for your ophthalmic nerves. Medically, it was pretty serious." Slipped discs The most serious of Eamonn's health woes began in early 2021. The broadcaster soon shared his chronic pain with his social media followers, writing: "A month ago I did something to my back. I don't know how I did it – getting into the car, getting out of a car, getting out of bed, whatever. I've got an MRI scan but the trouble is everything closes for Easter. I haven't got it analysed yet but what I do know is I can't sleep at night." The star went onto discover he had three slipped discs, which are caused by the soft cushion of tissue between the bones in the spine bulging outwards. They were affecting movement in Eamonn's right leg, meaning he had to walk with a stick. He had epidural injections to manage his pain, saying they 'helped to a degree but didn't cure the problem'. Spinal surgery Eamonn flew over to Belfast to host an event for pal Gloria Hunniford in May 2022 and ended up in A&E after his spinal problems caused bladder and bowel issues. He spent nine days in hospital at The Royal Victoria Hospital, with doctors feeling surgery would be too risky, returning with problems in his left leg as well as his right. The star then received advice from an unlikely source - S Club 7 original Jo O'Meara. "She got in touch to say she had the same disc problems I did and had just had surgery with a German surgeon," he told Mail Online. "I asked if she could pass on his details, because by now I was desperate." Eamonn went under the knife in September 2022, saying: "It went well - the doctor tidied things up and generally the pain has gone which is brilliant. The flip side is that it has now left me with an issue in my left leg, which would collapse unexpectedly." Horror fall The TV host's problems with his left leg following his operation led to six falls within 10 days. In October 2022, he fell down 18 stairs at home in Surrey when his leg once again gave way. "I just went back down the stairs, boom, boom, boom down the whole staircase until I hit the stone floor in the hallway," he told Mail Online. "Blood was pouring out my mouth and a bone was sticking out my shoulder." Eamonn faced six weeks of rehabilitation at a specialist centre. Heartbreakingly, his ongoing mobility issues meant he was forced to miss his mother Josephine's funeral that November. "It's something I never thought I would have to face in life," he said. "Not being at my mother's funeral. That was a terrible low. It was just inconceivable being Irish Catholic that you wouldn't be carrying your mother's coffin." Plea for fans' 'prayers' In March 2025, Eamonn discussed the realities of living with his pain and expressed his fears at 'never' being able to 'beat' his disc immobility. Sharing a selfie taken from inside his car, he wrote: 'Even when the sun shines there's pain. Sometimes I feel I'll never beat this disc immobility, but I'm determined to have a life… so pray for me, help me, or get out of the way, social media haters.' In response to the heartbreaking plea, Eammon's followers flocked to the comments section where they shared their support for the broadcaster. 'Hope you feel better soon Eamonn,' wrote one. Another commented: 'Oh Eamonn sending so much love and well wishes.' It came just months after he spoke about his need to 'rely' on other people – something he revealed he struggled with. During a segment on GB News in December, the former This Morning star addressed the prospect of using public transport amid predicted traffic jams on the road. 'The train definitely could be a dream, but I'm now sort of wheelchair laden, and you rely on a lot of people to get you on and off,' he said. 'It's very, very difficult doing that, I just threw that in, it's not a concern to anybody, but there we go.' Ruth's 'sadness' over health struggles Eamonn and Ruth Langsford may have split last year after 14 years of marriage, but it's been claimed that the Loose Women star's concerns for her ex haven't simply vanished, especially amid his seeming poor health struggle, reports OK!. A source claimed: 'Ruth honestly doesn't talk about Eamonn, she's really moved on from that part of her life. But of course, she does care about him, because they share a child and they were married for a long time.' However, the source added that, despite feeling 'sad' about Eamonn's struggles, Ruth is remaining strong. 'She has seen that he is struggling, and it's sad to see anyone in that situation. Of course, she fears for him and doesn't want to think of Eamonn battling with his health - but she has to focus on herself and her own life now,' the continued.
Hans India
30-04-2025
- Health
- Hans India
World Immunisation Week: Creating vaccination awareness and improving vaccination coverage in India
Bengaluru: Vaccines have proven their life-saving power globally, yet India still faces significant challenges in awareness and accessibility. Despite remarkable advances in safety and efficacy, many preventable diseases—Typhoid, Influenza, Cervical Cancer, Pneumonia, Shingles—continue to affect millions due to low immunization rates. Immediate action involving public, private, and community partners is essential. The Consultant Pediatrician and Neonatologist at Sanjivini Children's Clinic in Bengaluru, Dr. Vivekanand M Kustagi said, 'Even though vaccines are clinically effective, most people resist getting vaccinated. The reasons are several: they may not have access to accurate or sufficient information, certain cultural beliefs may influence their decisions, or they may lack adequate health education. Myths and incorrect information that go viral online discourage people from getting vaccinated. Therefore, clinical opinion leaders and healthcare system experts play a crucial role in championing and disseminating accurate information regarding vaccination and its benefits. This can be one of the solutions to higher adoption and increased use of vaccination in India.' India bears a heavy burden of vaccine-preventable illnesses. In 2021, around 10 million Typhoid cases were recorded, and over 511 million women face risk of Cervical Cancer, contributing nearly 80,000 deaths annually. Invasive Pneumococcal Disease accounts for up to 30% of deaths in children under five, and India represents 36% of the South East Asia region's pneumonia cases. The Government of India aims to reduce pneumonia deaths among children to fewer than three per 1,000 live births by 2025. The Managing Director of Novo Medi Sciences, Foram Bhagat shares, 'With a vision of making vaccines accessible and affordable to all, Novo Medi Sciences (Novo Group), focuses on the development of Next generation vaccines such as introducing World's Only Thermostable Varicella vaccine, India's first Hand Foot and Mouth disease vaccine, World's Only Single dose Shingles vaccine. The robust cold chain of Novo Medi Sciences ensures the maintenance of the quality of all products until it reaches the last mile, with a record of 'No-batch' recall ever. Novo Medi Sciences, with a legacy of over 75 years, continues to leverage today's technology and medical insights to achieve responsible, impactful innovation in the vaccines segment.'
