04/02/24 - #99

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • Moderate Cannabis Use Impact on Psychological Health May Be Less Negative Than Previously Thought. A Twin Study Found Limited Evidence of Direct Causal Relationship Between Moderate Cannabis Use (1-2 Times/month) and Most Negative Psychological Outcomes, Suggesting Genetics and Environment Factors

  • Popular Weight Loss Drugs Remain Out of Reach for Many Who Need Them

  • A Recent Study of US Veterans Found That 10% of Those Diagnosed With Dementia Actually Had a Liver Condition Called Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE) – a Treatable Condition. As the Condition Worsens, Symptoms Such as Forgetfulness, Disorientation, or Confusion Emerge

  • How a Growing Crisis of Loneliness is Affecting Americans’ Health

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Moderate Cannabis Use Impact on Psychological Health May Be Less Negative Than Previously Thought. A Twin Study Found Limited Evidence of Direct Causal Relationship Between Moderate Cannabis Use (1-2 Times/month) and Most Negative Psychological Outcomes, Suggesting Genetics and Environment Factors

A new study brings some good news for people who use cannabis sometimes. Scientists found out that using cannabis a little bit (like once or twice a month) might not be as bad for your mental health as people used to think.

Stephanie Zellers and her team looked at over 4,000 people, including twins, to see how cannabis affects people over time. They found that the bad things people often link to cannabis aren't always caused by using cannabis. These things include feeling really down or having trouble with other drugs. Instead, things like our genes (the stuff we inherit from our parents) and our surroundings might have a bigger impact.

But, using cannabis a lot more than once in a while could still be risky. The study did not look at every health issue that cannabis might cause. So, if you're thinking about using cannabis, it's important to not go overboard and to know about the risks.

In short, using cannabis in moderation might not be too harmful for your mental health, but it's still smart to be careful and informed. Remember, this study mainly talks about using cannabis infrequently. So, it's a bit different for people who use it a lot.

WEIGHT LOSS

Popular Weight Loss Drugs Remain Out of Reach for Many Who Need Them

New weight loss medicines like Wegovy and Zepbound are super promising. But, there's a big catch: they're really expensive, and a lot of times, insurance won't help pay for them. This makes it super tough for many people who could really use these drugs to get them.

Dr. Laure DeMattia, a doctor in Oklahoma, sees many patients who've tried everything to lose weight but nothing's worked. These new drugs could be a big help, but because they're so pricey, her patients can't afford them. And, it's even harder for people with Medicare or Medicaid because these plans don't cover the drugs at all.

It's also not fair who gets these drugs. This happens more to white people. Black people have a higher risk from being overweight and get them less.

Some places like West Virginia did help pay for these drugs for state workers, but that kind of help isn't everywhere.

Stories from people like Liz Shumate and Susan Beam show how hard it is. They wanted these drugs to help with their health problems but found out their insurance won't pay for them.

Experts say the problem is that insurance sees being overweight as not a big health issue, which is why they don't want to pay for the drugs. There's some hope as more companies might start to cover them, but for now, many people can't get the help they need.

HEALTH

A Recent Study of US Veterans Found That 10% of Those Diagnosed With Dementia Actually Had a Liver Condition Called Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE) – a Treatable Condition. As the Condition Worsens, Symptoms Such as Forgetfulness, Disorientation, or Confusion Emerge

A new study found something surprising: 10% of people thought to have dementia might actually have a liver problem called hepatic encephalopathy (HE). This is good news because HE can be treated!

Our liver cleans our blood. But if it gets hurt by things like drinking too much alcohol or getting sick from certain viruses, it can't clean the blood well. This can hurt the brain, causing symptoms that look a lot like dementia, such as forgetting things or getting confused.

HE starts off mild but can get serious, leading to a coma or even death if not treated. The treatment helps clean out the toxins from the body.

Finding HE early is hard because its symptoms are similar to dementia's. Plus, the liver disease that leads to HE doesn't show signs until it's pretty advanced.

The study focused on US veterans, looking at their health records. Many thought to have dementia might actually have liver disease. This means they could be treated for HE, which could help them feel better.

This research is important because it suggests doctors should also check the liver when someone has symptoms like forgetfulness. More studies are needed, but this could change how we treat people with these symptoms, offering new hope for better health.

How a Growing Crisis of Loneliness is Affecting Americans’ Health

Imagine feeling lonely almost every day. Sadly, this is true for many Americans. A study found that one out of every three people in the U.S. feels lonely every week. This loneliness doesn't just make people sad; it can hurt their health as badly as smoking a lot of cigarettes can.

Even though young people feel lonely a lot, adults over 45 years old feel it too. The big problem is that in our world today, we often focus on what makes us different from others and spend too much time on our phones or computers. This can make us feel even more alone.

Some people, like new moms, soldiers who have come back home, and older folks, might feel lonelier than others. The coronavirus pandemic made things worse, especially for older people who couldn't go out or see their families.

But there's hope. Some places are trying new things to help people feel less lonely. For example, in some areas, they're using technology to help older people stay in touch with others. And in other countries, like the UK and Japan, they've come up with big plans to help everyone feel more connected.

It's really important for us to help each other not feel lonely. Feeling connected and part of a community is good for our hearts and minds.

✢ A Note From Hem Hero

The information in this health newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment; always consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. The publishers are not responsible for any actions taken by the reader based on the information provided.