American Journal of Medicine

Is Marijuana Use Linked With An Overactive Bladder?

Published

1 year ago

July 20, 2023

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Marijuana has gone mainstream and become part of people’s weekly life. Similar to alcohol, it is even moving into people’s routine. We know how beer makes you want to visit the restroom, but what about cannabis. It seems heavy use of marijuana might be linked with an overactive bladder.

Overactive bladder is defined as a condition where people have to urinate with more frequency. It includes behaviors like nocturia, urge incontinence, and more. It’s considered a chronic disease. At worse it is a major inconvenience and can cause disrupted sleep, but it can lead to other conditions. It affects up to 33 million adults, including as many as 30% of men and 40% of women. However, that number may be higher because many people may feel embarrassed and won’t get help.

A study published in the American Journal of Medicine examined whether marijuana has an impact on overactive bladders and found regular marijuana consumers are more likely to suffer from the condition than non-users.

restroom — Photo by Panupon Pongeaim / EyeEm/Getty Images

Researchers collected data from 2005 and 2018 on regular and non-regular marijuana users aged 18 to 59, who answered a variety of questions about drug use and kidney conditions.

Over 18,000 samples were gathered, with 24% of respondents identifying as regular marijuana users. These people were more likely to be male, single, smokers, thinner, and younger when compared to the other participants in the study. They also reported more urinary incontinence and frequent nocturia, which is the urge to wake up in the middle of the night to go use the bathroom.

While researchers don’t fully understand why marijuana affects bladders specifically, the study shows regular marijuana users were at higher risk of overactive bladder disorder and are especially at higher risk of nocturia.

“Our data do not support the evidence for the use of cannabinoids in the medical treatment of patients with overactive bladder, especially given the thorny health problems caused by marijuana,” concludes the study.

Before you becoming overly concerned about marijuana, there are multiple causes for an overactive bladder. They include drinking too much fluid, urinary tract infections (UTIs), caffeinated drinks, alcohol, spicy foods, and other bladder irritants, and having certain health conditions, for example, bladder stones or diabetes. In addition, certain medications can lead to the same condition, so if they are issues, chat with your doctor.

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American Journal of Medicine

Will Marijuana Help You Look Good In a Swimsuit

Published

7 months ago

April 26, 2024

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Summer is around the corner and already people in swimsuits are populating Insta, TicTok and more. Time to shake off the pale skin and start working on a tan while working to get rid of the holiday pounds. Winter helps you gain and not in a good way. The lack of sunlight in winter supports

You might think what? Doesn’t marijuana make you have the muchies and make you lazy? Well, the “old school” thought is still around, but science is starting to say something else. A bit of a gummy or other marijuana before a workout can boost motivation and make exercise more enjoyable. If you are a casual, it can be a benefit. If performance is the goal, it may be best to skip. That’s the takeaway of the first ever study from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Another study published in the American Journal of Medicine, marijuana users are less likely than non-users to develop metabolic syndrome, which is a significant risk factor for obesity, type II diabetes, and heart disease. Among young adults, cannabis consumers are 54 percent less likely than non-consumers to present with metabolic syndrome. Past marijuana use is associated with lower odds of metabolic syndrome among middle-aged adults. And seniors who medicate with cannabis tend to be slimmer and less insulin-resistant than seniors who just say no.

The munchies imagine is real, it is a scientifically proven phenomenon. But just like cannabis can give you the munchies, certain marijuana can be the anti-munchies. THC is a CB1 “agonist” that turns on the appetite receptor and causes it to signal. An “antagonist” will block the receptor and prevent it from signaling. Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), a minor but medically significant component of the cannabis plant, is a neutral CB1 receptor antagonist. Scientists have also synthesized “inverse agonists” that can activate a cannabinoid receptor and cause it to signal in the opposite manner from how it functions naturally. A CB1 inverse agonist will curb appetite and reduce food intake by binding to CB1 receptors, whereas THC boosts appetite and food intake by binding to CB1.

And lastly, people have figured out marijuana is less fattening than alcohol. As the realization has taken effect, beer sales have dropped as people have reduce there suds intake for a gummy or vape – especially in the beginning of the week.

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American Journal of Medicine

Data Reveals Why Cannabis Users Tend To Be Thinner

Published

11 months ago

December 29, 2023

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With the stigma of “the munchies” people have been a bit baffled marijuana consumers tend to be a bit thinner!

Unlike other vices, it seems marijuana may have another benefit – helping keep off the weight. Despite “the munchies” or an increased appetite, it seems it doesn’t matter. Although it may seem intuitive that an increased appetite would lead to weight gain, current existing epidemiological studies suggest that marijuana users are less likely to have obesity. Now data reveals why cannabis users tend to be thinner

One theory is cannabis can influence a person’s level of insulin, thus, influencing their waistline. One study, published in the American Journal of Medicine, collected and analyzed data from 4,600 adults.

Researchers found that current marijuana users had significantly smaller waistlines when compared to participants who had never smoked marijuana before. These results were surprising since factors like gender, age, tobacco and alcohol use, physical activity and more were considered.

Significant Weight Loss Might Have An Impact On Your Immune System — Photo by Huha Inc. via Unsplash

Participants who consumed cannabis had lower levels of insulin when compared to those who didn’t consume marijuana. Even people who had consumed cannabis in the past had lower insulin levels than the average person, although to much smaller degrees.

Another factor that can influence people’s weight is THCV, a cannabinoid with appetite suppressant effects. Despite THCV being a minor cannabinoid and there being much less information out there on its effects, the compound is known for blocking out THC’s powerful hunger inducing capabilities, which could help some people manage their eating patterns and behaviors.

Although there are currently no medications or ways of consuming THCV directly, there are a few strains that contain high amounts of the compound, especially in sativa dominant strains. Durban Poison, Girl Scout Cookies, Cherry Pie, Face off OG, and others could be an interesting choice if you want to check out the effects of THCV for yourself.

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