“Glaucоma is a disease оf the оptic nerve that can result in visiоn lоss and blindness” (Jampel 75). Even thоugh there are several factоrs, sоme оf which are yet tо be fully understооd, that lead tо damage оf the оptical nerve amоng persоns suffering frоm glaucоma, it has been fоund that the main treatment fоr peоple suffering frоm glaucоma remains bringing dоwn their intraоcular pressure (IОP) which is the fluid pressure inside the eye. There has been raging debate оn the use оf marijuana in the treatment оf variоus medical cоnditiоns. Even thоugh cоnservative methоds оf treatment exist, sоme patients get relief frоm the cоnditiоns that they suffer frоm оnce they smоke marijuana (Center fоr Health and Pharmaceutical Law and Pоlicy). Amоng …show more content…
The same is apprоved and suppоrted by variоus institutiоns including the Natiоnal Eye Institute. Proven research has cоnfirmed that either when marijuana is smоked оr when its active cоmpоnent is taken, the IОP levels are lоwer. Like any оther drug, there is оften many ways thrоugh which they can be administered intо the bоdy. Studies оn glaucоma treatment using marijuana fоund diverse ways thrоugh which patients’ cоuld receive the treatment. Due tо the beneficial effects of marijuana, the Fооd and Drug Administratiоn allоwed оphthalmоlоgists tо recоmmend marijuana fоr peоple when оther treatment methоds failed to wоrk fоr them (Stоlberg and Sheryl). Apart frоm smоking, there are three primary ways оf administering tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which include smoking, the under the tongue method, and eye drоp instillation (Jampel 75). THC is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis Even thоugh all оf the three methоds have drawbacks, the оral and the under the tongue methоd avoids the adverse effects that marijuana smоke has оn the lungs. It means that all the three methоds are nоt practical treatment оptiоns cоnsidering that glaucоma is a permanent health cоnditiоn. Peоple whо push fоr the use оf marijuana in treatment nоrmally have fоur pоssible symptoms in mind that it may cоntrоl including glaucоma, nausea suppressiоn, reduce pain resulting frоm multiple sclerоsis and bооsting the appetite оf HIV/AIDS patients
Saxena, Rohit, Diguijay Singh, and Praveen Vashist. “Glaucoma: An Emerging Peril.” Indian Journal of Community Medicine 38.3 (2013): 135-7: Proquest. Web. 7 Jan 2014.
With no treatment needed, glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, while simultaneously being the number one leading cause in Africa (Glaucoma Research Foundation). According to the American Optometric Association, “Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases causing optic nerve damage. The optic nerve carries images from the retina, which is the specialized light sensing tissue, to the brain so we can see.” They go on to say that when dealing with glaucoma, one’s eye pressure plays a vital role in damaging the delicate nerve fibers of the optic nerve. “When a significant number of nerve fibers are damaged, blind spots develop in the field of vision. Once nerve damage and visual loss occur, it is permanent.” The National Institute of Health states that due to shallower anterior chamber depths, this defect hurts the lives of people mostly from East Asian descent. The Foundation continues to say that blacks are among the people who are three times more likely to have glaucoma while woman in general are two times more likely to developing angle closure glaucoma.
Delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol can reduce high blood pressure in the arteries. The arteries are vessels that carry out blood from the heart. Prove by a few scientists, THC could reduce of high blood pressure. Most of the scientists still don’t recommend this. Delta 9 THC can also cause weight loss. Scientists want to make this chemical to treat diabetes. It also lowers cholesterol in the blood stream. Scientists also found that it has an impact on insulin. Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar levels. Scientist found that THC increases the sensitivity in insulin and also protecting the cells that produce insulin. THC is also use for patients who have cancer. It makes them fight for vomiting and nausea symptoms. It reduces the onset of neuropathy in patients who suffer from that condition. THC can have effects on men, it can cause changes to the structure of the sperm. THC can cause sterility on men. THC can be used to treat and prevent the eye disease. Glaucoma is when it increased pressure in the eye ball damaging the optic nerve which causes the loss of vision. When you consumed THC the pressure of the eyeball decrease into the regular pressure. According to a research, scientists have seen that THC can improve the capacity of
Marijuana has a long medical history, ranging from its anecdotal use in ancient times, through medical prescribing in the 19th and early 20th centuries to modern. "The first record of cannabis as a medicine can be found in the oldest Chinese pharmacopeia, Shen Nag Ben Cao Jing, written in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 AD to 220 AD). It was indicated for rheumatic pain, malaria, constipation, and disorders of the female reproductive system" (Greenwell, 2012, Vol. 26 Issue 1). Pain is one of the most common reasons that medical cannabis is recommended. "Scientists have long known that tetrahydracannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana, is an effective pain killer" (Mcdonagh, 2003). Studies of medical marijuana show significant improvement in various types of pain. "Marijuana appears to exert its pain relieving effects by acting on certain sites in the brain and spinal nerves. These specific sites are called cannabinoid receptors. The cannabinoid compound connects to these receptors, much like two puzzle pieces fitting together. Once, joined, the receptor alters the way the brain cell or nerve cell functions. This alteration of function changes the way the cell perceives painful stimulus, often reducing the intensity of pain that is interpreted by the brain" (Greenwell, 2012, Vol. 26 Issue 1). "The effect that cannabinoid compounds have on the cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) found in the brain can create varying pharmacologic responses based on formulation and patient characteristics" (Borgelt, Franson, & Nussbaum, 2013). Several small clinical studies have confirmed the usefulness of THC, which at doses of 15 to 20mg was found to be comparable to 60 to 120mg pharmaceutical painkillers. But which form of pain manag...
Glaucoma is a common and important health problem. It is one of the leading causes of blindness in Western Society (Hoskins & Kass, 1989). It is responsible for ten percent of all blindness in the United States and continues to be the second or third most common cause of blindness in the world (Bunce, Fraser, & Wormald, 1999). It is estimated that two million people in the United States have been diagnosed as having glaucoma. Glaucoma is known to affect about two percent of Caucasians beginning at the age of 40 with an increasing risk for those over the age of 60. This risk is especially high if a member of the family has glaucoma or diabetes. Further, there is a higher risk of a glaucoma diagnosis for African Americans over the age of 40.
Marijuana, also known as weed, is smoked for the high, as well as for “nausea, glaucoma, appetite simulations, mucous membrane inflammation, leprosy, fever, dandruff, hemorrhoids, obesity, asthma, urinary tract infections, cough, anorexia associated with weight loss in AIDS patients, pain, and multiple sclerosis” (“Marijuana Overview Information”). Medicines to treat some of the listed ailments have not been found as of, yet so patients are suffering from pain and ongoing symptoms from their disease or illness. The only treatment for some of these ongoing symptoms and pain is medical marijuana. This is why medical marijuana is being pushed to be legalized in America. The “high” that users get from smoking marijuana relieves pain for a short period of time. Dr. Mark Ware tested cannabis (mar...
The legalization of marijuana has been a highly debated topic for many of years. Since the first president to the most recent, our nation’s leaders have consumed the plant known as weed. With such influential figures openly using this drug why is it so frowned upon? Marijuana is considered a gateway drug, a menace to society, and mentally harmful to its consumers. For some people weed brings a sense of anxiety, dizziness, or unsettling feeling. Like alcohol, tobacco or any other drug, those chemicals may not respond well with their body. For other people marijuana brings joy, a sense of relief, and takes the edge off of every day stress. For those who are associated with cannabis, purposes usually range from a relaxant, or cash crop, to more permissible uses such as medicine, and ingredient to make so many other materials. We now need to look at what would change if marijuana were legal. Benefits to the economy and agriculture, health issues, and crime rates are three areas worth looking at. Deliberating on the pros and cons of this plant we can get a better understanding for marijuana. From there it will be easier to make a clear consensus on what is best for the nation.
Medicinal marijuana can provide multiple types of pain relief. First, it was proved to relieve asthma attacks and improve breathing. Also, its active ingredient, THC, reduces vomiting and nausea caused by chemotherapy. It relieves the muscle pain and spasticity that comes from multiple sclerosis, and may also help some of these unfortunate patients with bladder control and relieve tremor. The leading cause of blindness in the United States is caused by glaucoma, which is when the pressure inside one’s eyeball has increased. Marijuana, when smoked, reduces this pressure, making it a significant amount better to deal with. Medicinal cannabis also strongly improv...
The active ingredient in marijuana is delta-9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. The structure of THC is very similar to the endogenous cannabinoids, or endocannabinoids for short, which are naturally occurring chemicals in the body (1).The THC binds to the receptors of the endocannabinoids, and activates the neurons, causing the different sensations experienced during a high. These receptors are spread throughout the brain. THC affects the central nervous system, as well as the peripheral tissue systems. THC can reduce pain, lower body temperature, and enhance appetite. It can also be used for anti-inflammatory, bronchodilatory, and anti-convulsant, which is why THC is used for medicinal purposes. THC is used as a popular treatment for glaucoma by reducing ocular pressure, and for neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Huntington's Disease, and spinal cord injury (4).
Marijuana is a herbal drug that is either inhaled or ingested, usually causing whats called a ‘high’ where it enhances the person’s mental and physical facilities. This drug has been known to been used even in prehistory, but the biggest known time for it is the 1960s when many people used it across America. The known physical effects are bloodshot eyes, increased
“Considerable anecdotal evidence suggests that marijuana may be effective in treating a number of medical conditions… such as chemotherapy-induced nausea, wasting and anorexia associated with AIDS” (Joffe and Yancy). Marijuana can help treat this conditions, but there are also other people who use marijuana as a medicine for others circumstances. For example, people use marijuana to sleep, because some people have difficulties to sleep in the night and they need this product to rest their body. Also, those people who could only sleep a few hours use marijuana to help them sleep more hours. Some individuals use marijuana for problems of rheumatism, they mixed marijuana with alcohol to pain relive. Moreover people say that the results with this product is beneficially for adults. People sometimes use marijuana to relaxing his bodies. For example, there are a number of people who stress in work and use it for relaxing at home. However, marijuana should not be legalized because using it as medicine can result in negative consequences. “While proponents assert marijuana’s usefulness in treating a variety of medical conditions, opponents counter that the drugs has never been proven effective and the new laws open the door to abuse” (Peron). Those who use marijuana to sleep can have serious problems because if they use this drug every day to sleep their body will became used to receiving this medication daily. Thus, their body will never rest unless they take in drugs to help them sleep and eventually they will become addicted. Therefore, those who believe that marijuana should be legalized need to rethink the severe consequences that using it as a medicine will cause. People are using marijuana as a medication because it is an excuse to take in drug. For those reasons, it will be more beneficial if marijuana stays
Medical marijuana has been used for centuries to combat pain, weakness, anxiety, insomnia, female problems and nausea. Today it is commonly used by cancer and AIDS patients to stimulate hunger, combat nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy or other drug therapy and reduce pain. It has also been shown to be effective in reducing eye pressure, especially in the cases with glaucoma. Medical marijuana, or cannabis, is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant and there is some evidence of cannabis being used medicinally for over four thousand years. Many believe that medical marijuana is a healthy and natural alternative to dangerous and toxic pharmaceuticals that often have side effects worse than the original condition. The United Sates declared marijuana a narcotic and declared it illegal with the passing of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937.
The human eye is one of the most complex organs in the body that can be easily taken for granted. It is an organ that is susceptible to various disorders such as glaucoma, which can eventually lead to impaired vision and blindness. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness. Currently, there are no cures for glaucoma. There are, however, treatment options such as medications, laser procedures and surgery to slow the effects of glaucoma to prevent the progression of blindness from occurring. Throughout this paper, various treatments for glaucoma will be presented as well as the best nursing practices centered on evidenced based research.
Marijuana is a cannabis drug that may be used for medical purposes. It was used to soothe malaria and constipation in many Asian countries including India and China (Ashton). It has the capability to relieve the pain of a serious sickness like malaria as well as a common every day stomach sickness like constipation. Marijuana has also been used therapeutically for the common disease asthma (Ashton). It “exert[s] a bronchodilator action on the small airways” therefore allowing a person to breathe better (Ashton). Marijuana has not only been used for amusement but it has been a treatment for many illnesses therefore; we need to consider all the characteristics of marijuana before making a decision to legalize it for medical purposes.
6. There are also some medicinal uses of marijuana such as relieving nausea and pain. Some studies also indicate the possible relief of glaucoma.