Lupus
Lupus and Medical Marijuana
INTRODUCTION
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack its tissues and organs. Normally, the body produces antibodies to attack foreign invaders in the body. Autoimmune conditions such as lupus, causes the body to develop antibodies that attack healthy tissue. Lupus can last at least six weeks or even years. It can cause inflammation, pain and damage to various systems. Lupus often affects the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.
DIAGNOSIS
The signs and symptoms of lupus are similar to many other medical conditions, including thyroid problems, Lyme disease, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia which is why it be difficult to diagnose. The most distinctive sign of lupus is a facial rash in the shape of butterfly wings unfolding across the nose and both cheeks. This rash occurs in many but not all patients.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of lupus vary significantly from patient to patient. They might come on suddenly, or they might gradually develop. Signs and symptoms could be temporary or permanent and range from mild to severe, with many patients experiencing episodes or flares of more intense symptoms, followed by a significant improvement. Because the disease affects different systems in each patient, the symptoms also vary depending on how the disease affects the body.
Some potential symptoms of lupus include:
A rash that appears as butterfly shapes across the face.
Skin lesions that may worsen with sun exposure.
Fatigue.
Fever.
Dizziness.
Ulcers in the mouth or nose.
Stiffness, pain and swelling in joints.
Swelling of the feet, legs, hands and around eyes.
Raynaud’s phenomenon, which causes fingers and toes to turn blue or white in cold or due to stress.
Confusion or memory loss.
Chest pain, especially when breathing.
Shortness of breath.
Photosensitivity, which is sensitivity to the sun or light.
Hair loss.
Swollen glands.
COMPLICATIONS
Lupus can cause severe complications. These complications often affect specific body systems. Some possible complications include:
Hallucinations.
Anemia.
Kidney damage.
Kidney failure.
Strokes.
Seizures.
Increased risk of blood clotting or bleeding.
Vasculitis, which is an inflammation in blood vessels.
Pleurisy, which is inflammation of the chest cavity lining.
Pericarditis, which causes inflammation in the heart muscle, arteries and heart membrane.
Increased risk of heart disease and heart attacks.
Infection due to a weakened immune system.
Increased risk of cancer.
Bone tissue destruction due to the diminished blood supply, resulting in breaks and bone collapse.
Increased risk of miscarriage, preeclampsia and preterm birth in pregnant women with lupus.
Lupus usually begins between the ages of 15 and 44, with women of childbearing age being the most common group to develop the disease. It affects people of all ethnicities and races, but women of color have two to three times the likelihood to develop the condition than Caucasian individuals.
CAUSES
The specific cause of lupus is unknown, but many researchers believe the disease stems from a combination of factors. Some possible triggers could include;
Genetics.
Environmental factors, such as chemicals or viruses.
Emotional stress and exhaustion.
Certain types of drugs could trigger lupus.
There is currently no cure for lupus, but there are treatment options that can help control symptoms.
LUPUS AND MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Knowing the correct medication is usually based on trial and error with adjustments being made gradually. Also, finding the right strain and ingestion method of medical marijuana for lupus takes some experimentation. Every patient’s symptoms are different and an individual’s body can respond differently, so the cannabis treatment that works for one lupus patient may not be as effective for another.
Some patients use medical cannabis together with their current lupus treatments. Medical cannabis may provide additional relief more than what the patient experiences from their traditional treatments and may help in alleviating some of the side effects of traditional medicine. For example, if a medication makes you feel nauseous, medical marijuana may help ease that feeling. Many of our patients report that using medical cannabis significantly helps with their nausea.
Other patients rely primarily on medical marijuana for treatment, or they gradually move from traditional medication to medical marijuana. It is important to work closely with your primary care doctor and our licensed marijuana doctor or his team of marijuana practitioners to ensure your condition is treated properly. Lack of proper treatment for lupus using medical marijuana could lead to more serious health problems so it is important to only use medical cannabis under a doctors supervision.
How Can I Get Medical Marijuana to Treat my Lupus?
Getting medical marijuana in Virginia has become a lot easier in 2021. New laws have allowed expanded access using telemedicine to treat patients from anywhere in the state of Virginia. At CannabisMD TeleMed we provide a streamlined process so that Virginia residents can obtain their medical marijuana cards without the headache of navigating the process alone.
Streamlined Medical Marijuana Process
Our process for helping Virginia residents obtain their medical marijuana card is easy. Check out the steps below.
Schedule an appointment with any of our marijuana practitioners online through our website.
Fill out and submit your intake forms online using our patient portal from any connected device.
See one of our marijuana practitioners or our marijuana doctor virtually using telemedicine from anywhere.
Receive your medical cannabis certificate immediately following your appointment by email.
Submit your medical cannabis card application with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy
We have videos that will walk patients through the entire process and we are available 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, so patients never feel like they are lost.
If you are interested in exploring the natural benefits of medical marijuana for your medical condition such as lupus please schedule an appointment below by clicking on the Book An Appointment button below. All payments are 100% refundable if you decide medical marijuana is not right for your by the end of your appointment.
