Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome Medical Marijuana in Michigan is a syndrome that leads to dramatic weight loss and severe muscle wasting.
It can be caused by certain diseases, such as cancer, AIDS, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other illnesses that affect the body's ability to fight infection.
The medical marijuana card in Michigan can help with this condition by stimulating appetite and reducing nausea.Cachexia is also known as Wasted Syndrome - Weight Loss - Muscle Wasting - Malnutrition Symptoms include: Significant weight loss- 50 pounds or more over six months; Extreme weakness- difficulty standing up from a chair; Weakness in arm muscles- arms are too weak to lift what would normally be an easy task; Sagging skin- loose skin on the upper arms, thighs, and abdomen; Significant decrease in muscle mass- The circumference of your wrists is less than half of what it was before; No appetite- no desire to eat despite having an empty stomach; Nausea and vomiting- nausea is severe enough that you vomit more than once a week; Fatigue - extreme fatigue is severe enough that you need to rest after going about your routine activities; Dizziness or lightheadedness- happens several times a day.The weight loss associated with cachexia can be so rapid that the body's immune system is compromised, making it difficult for the body to fight off infection.
Patients diagnosed with cachexia have a very poor prognosis, and by some estimates, up to 50% of patients already have terminal cancer before being diagnosed.The threat from the wasting syndrome of death makes it imperative that we seek treatment for these symptoms early on.
Appetite stimulants can also pose a risk of addiction, plus there is always some percentage of patients who don't react well to them.Medical marijuana and cachexia: Research on this topic has shown that cannabinoid receptors play an important role in stimulating appetite.
Also, delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) reduces nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain caused by cancer chemotherapy and may be useful in treating cachexia.