Two of the main active compounds in cannabis, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) — called plant or phytocannabinoids — are chemically similar to the natural endocannabinoids produced by the human body. The discovery of the ECS, coupled with the awareness of plant cannabinoids and the opportunity to make synthetic (or human-made) versions has generated a substantial amount of scientific interest in understanding how cannabinoids might be used to maintain health and alleviate symptoms of disease....

Last summer, she didn’t think twice about using a steroid cream to relieve the sting of a mild sunburn. “I applied it to my arms for a few days, then I stopped,” she recalls. A few days later, she developed a rash, not only on her arms but also the rest of her body. “My skin was burning red, then after a few days it would peel off, like it was shedding....

According to the American Cancer Society, regular exercise has benefits for people with any type of cancer, especially during treatment — so much so, guidelines published by the American Society of Clinical Oncology in 2022 encourage oncologists to recommend physical activity to patients, based on evidence that both aerobic exercise and strength training during cancer treatment can “reduce fatigue; preserve cardiorespiratory fitness, physical functioning, and strength; and in some populations, improve quality of life and reduce anxiety and depression....

While the game will still be played with fans in attendance, the National Football League (NFL) has limited the crowd to 22,000, which is about one-third of the capacity of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The NFL has also collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to come up with protocols to help ensure the safety of attendees. The stadium has placed markers to ensure fans maintain six-foot physical distancing in common areas, face coverings must be worn at all times (except when eating and drinking), and hand sanitizer will be readily available throughout the venue....

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) projected XBB.1.5 to be the predominant U.S. variant going into the new year, the health agency revised its estimate as of January 7. According to the latest figures, the omicron subvariant BQ1.1 makes up the majority of new cases (34 percent), followed by XBB.1.5 (28 percent) and BQ.1 (21 percent). Still, XBB.1.5 is poised to take the top spot, growing more than tenfold since the beginning of December....

What: #HealthTalk Twitter Chat: Depression: Is It About What You’re Eating or What’s Eating You? Where: tweetchat.com/room/HealthTalk When: Monday, December 3, 2012 1-2pm EST Why: Do you ever wonder why we sometimes turn to food when we’re depressed? Nutrition expert Bonnie Taub-Dix will answer this and other food-mood related questions, as well as offer healthy alternatives to traditional “comfort foods.” Learn more about our co-host: Bonnie Taub-Dix, MA,RD,CDN has been Owner of BTD Nutrition Consultants, LLC for more than three decades specializing in behavior and lifestyle modification and she is the author of the book “Read It Before You Eat It....

Experts recommend adults get a minimum of 150 minutes a week (a little more than 20 minutes each day) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity and do strength-training that works the major muscle groups at least two days a week. But there are other ways to boost physical activity outside of your regular workouts and reap additional health benefits. Here are thirteen ways to sneak more exercise into your day. Rise and shine—and stretch....

So, how does a pulmonary embolism happen, and what can you do to protect yourself? These 13 questions can get the conversation going between you and your doctor. 1. What Causes a Pulmonary Embolism? A pulmonary embolism is a blockage in an artery in your lungs, usually caused by a blood clot. Occasionally, tumor cells, parasites, air bubbles, amniotic fluid, or fat may be the culprit in a blockage, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH)....

“She told me to stop pushing my stomach out, I said I wasn’t, and she told me to stop,” says Muñiz. “Finally, she realized I really wasn’t sticking it out.” The two were at the doctor’s office where Muñiz was getting an X-ray on her knees. It was a fairly routine visit, until her mother discovered the lump protruding from her preteen’s right ovary. A biopsy soon revealed that it was ovarian cancer....

Alopecia is the medical name for a everyday condition: “Alopecia is a general term to describe hair thinning or hair loss,” Ken L. Williams Jr., DO, FISHRS, ABHRS, a surgeon and founder of Orange County Hair Restoration in Irvine, California. “The most common form of hair loss is due to genetics.” Other causes of alopecia include thyroid issues, autoimmune problems, (known as alopecia areata), or in women, menopause. Men who use hormone replacement therapy may also experience hair loss....

Heart disease risk increases with age for both men and women. “But there are heart disease risk factors especially associated with ovarian aging,” says Chrisandra Shufelt MD, associate director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health in Jacksonville, Florida, which is the complex process marked by changes in hormone levels that occurs, ending with menopause. Aging ovaries produce less estrogen and follicle-stimulating hormone; a drop in these hormones is linked to heart disease risk....

“Herbal or vitamin supplements, acupuncture, massage, and meditation have all been used to help with symptom relief, increase mobility, and improve mood and outlook after stroke,” says Koto Ishida, MD, clinical director of the Center for Stroke and Neurovascular Diseases at NYU Langone in New York City. Here are six evidence-backed ways to treat a stroke using complementary and alternative medicines: 1. Acupuncture Reduces Pain and Depression Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese complementary medicine that involves penetrating the skin with fine needles....

To make one, you take a platter or board, spread softened butter over the surface, and sprinkle on toppings of your choice, such as dried fruit, honey, edible flowers, nuts, or herbs. Then, you scoop up the butter and toppings with crackers, bread, or dippable veggies like radishes or carrots. The problem with butter boards? For starters, that butter base isn’t very healthy. “As a garnish or spread on a warm piece of toast, there’s nothing like a bit of butter....

Do your research and talk to your doctor to find out whether you’re considering bogus psoriasis treatments and would do better with a prescription psoriasis medication. “In general when I talk to patients about treatment, I tell them that over-the-counter remedies are not particularly effective,” explained dermatologist Junko Takeshita, MD, PhD, a clinical instructor in the dermatology department at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. What’s more, miracle cures or supplements promoted by scam artists could be downright dangerous....

Here are some things I have tried that might help you as well: Be kind to yourself. If you had a broken leg, you wouldn’t think, “I shouldn’t have a broken leg.” But if you’re depressed, it’s easy to think, “I shouldn’t be depressed,” or “I should calm down.” In our culture, we pride ourselves on pushing through things. When you’re depressed, however, “beating yourself up” only increases your sense of helplessness....

In the past, divine intervention or just plain luck has always saved me from truly hurting myself. But divine intervention is merely a concept, and one’s luck eventually runs out. The worst fall finally happened. As I sat there in complete shock afterward, the instinct to berate myself — my usual reaction to falling — all but disappeared. Anatomy of a Fall: How It Happened The whole incident happened when I was, with help, trying to position my legs at the top of the stairway, which I have done at least a thousand times before....

These disruptive conditions often force people to make lifestyle changes, which can have a large effect on overall mental health. The Arthritis Foundation estimates that, depending on the type of arthritis, people living with arthritis-related diseases experience depression and anxiety at rates 2 to 10 times greater than the general population. In fact, findings from research published in the journal Rheumatology and Therapy suggest that 30 percent of people living with RA develop depression within just five years of diagnosis....

“The EULAR Congress is comprised of an extensive network of innovative minds working toward illustrating the latest scientific breakthroughs in clinical, translational, and basic sciences, discussing what is new in dedicated sessions, presenting data on how to treat rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, giving view to the transfer of results from bench to bedside, showing the practical aspects of our specialty in specific workshop discussions, offering debates, and, in essence, displaying the future of rheumatology,” said Dr....

There are tools that can make almost every activity in your day easier, whether you need to open tightly closed jars, get a better grip on your keys, or go up and down stairs safely. When should you consider using assistive devices? “Everyone comes to this decision in their own time, and many people prefer to keep doing their activities without any aids for as long as possible,” says Gayle Lang, an occupational therapy clinical specialist in the department of rehabilitation services at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston....

Infection-fighting white blood cells are produced in the bone marrow — the blood-making “factory” responsible for producing the cells in your blood. Bone marrow resides inside the large bones in your body, such as your hip and thigh bones. Cancer can spread to the space in your bones, displacing your bone marrow’s healthy cells. As cancer grows in this place, the remaining bone marrow cells may not be able to produce enough white blood cells to fight infections....