Puerto Rican healthcare professional Dr. Jose Silva Morales is reaffirming people's faith in the cannabis plant's medicinal qualities.

In particular, Dr. Morales, who also serves as the President/CEO of Virtual Healing Solutions, says that "cannabis contributes to patients with chronic rheumatic conditions" positively.A former San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Dr. Morales, says that the green plant may serve as a welcome aid for people who suffer from autoimmune and inflammatory diseases that fall into the category of rheumatic diseases.

This type of disease causes the immune system to attack the joints, bones, muscles, and essential organs, including the eyes, heart, kidneys, lungs, nervous system, and skin. While cannabis may not make the pain disappear entirely, it could make it more bearable.Early research indicates that pharmaceutical-grade cannabis may reduce pain and enhance sleep quality in people diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. A study, "Joints for Joints – cannabinoids in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis," discovered that "cannabinoids could be a suitable treatment for RA."About Rheumatic DiseasesRheumatic diseases are often related to "arthritis" — a group of medical conditions used to describe more than 100 diseases and conditions.The number of people around the world who endure the symptoms of the rheumatic disease could be more than 300 million, based on estimates from the Global RA Network.

A leading cause of disability.The global prevalence of RA, a leading cause of disability, was believed to be somewhere in the range of 460 per 100,000 population between 1980 and 2019. These findings were gleaned after researchers analyzed population studies from four electronic databases (ProQuest Central, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and EMBASE) for peer-reviewed English publications.

Rheumatic diseases can spur on many conditions that may hinder a person's ability to perform typical daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing, or walking.Spotting the early symptoms of rheumatic disease is essential to ensuring that you get suitable treatment before the problem intensifies. The following frequently reported signs of rheumatoid arthritis will usually manifest:

• Joint pain and swelling

• Joint stiffness that persists for a minimum of one hour during the early morning

• Chronic joint pain and tenderness

• Fatigue•Joint redness/warmth•Restricted joint movement

Risk Factors for Rheumatic Disease

Several risk factors can influence your chances of developing a rheumatic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis. They include the following:

• Age - Rheumatoid arthritis can strike people of all ages, but according to Mayo Clinic, the medical condition is most likely to occur in middle-aged people.

• Family History - Although rheumatoid arthritis is not believed to be hereditary, specific genes can be passed down from one family member to another that increase the risk of developing the rheumatic disease. Those genes include HLA, STAT4, TRAF1-C5, and PTPN22.

• Lifestyle Habits - People who smoke cigarettes face a higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, especially if the smoker has a genetic predisposition for the disease. The risk is 1.3 times greater for females than for non-smokers.

• Sex - Women are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than men. According to a 2009 study published in the journal BMC Medicine, "RA disease activity measures appear worse in women than in men."

• Obesity - Studies have shown a high prevalence of obesity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, suggesting a connection between being overweight and developing the medical condition. This was confirmed by researchers who published a report in the journal Advances in Rheumatology.

Medical Cannabis Consumption Plays an Integral Role in the Nervous System

Over the past few years, growing scientific evidence has supported claims that cannabis may help ease the signs of widespread diseases. Cannabinoid receptors, which are round in the body's endocannabinoid system (ECS), play an essential role in regulating immune and nervous system processes.According to general practitioner Dr. Jose Silva, medical marijuana's remedial powers can significantly benefit patients with fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sclerosis, and ulcerative colitis, in addition to numerous psychiatric, inflammatory, and autoimmune problems.

Dr. Silva affirms that cannabis use in cases of fibromyalgia has been intensely studied by doctors and scientists alike, particularly in Europe, where the medical cannabis market is forecast to generate €7 billion by 2027."A reduction within the blood of cannabinoids has already been identified in patients with fibromyalgia," explained Dr. Silva, who noted that fibromyalgia patients lack body-produced endocannabinoids.

Therefore benefit from consuming cannabis- and hemp-derived cannabinoids to give their ECS a boost and better fight disease.The ECS's primary function is to maintain homeostasis by regulating various bodily processes like pain, digestion, hunger, mood, sleep, memory, and inflammation. While cannabis may make a significant difference to patients with rheumatic conditions, it's important to note that it cannot be considered curative."This subject requires plenty of self-study due to the special regulation of the FDA in the US; scientific research has been sluggish and limited in establishing the benefits of hashish," said Dr. Silva. "That's precisely why it's important to know and educate yourself about what these products should include based mostly on each patient's wants."He said, "if somebody as a well-being care provider does not know tips on how to recommend an acceptable product for an affected person, then in some circumstances we can set off effects that will have an effect on their condition."The doctor emphasized that dosage choice is essential and depends on each patient's needs.

Plus, since everyone's biochemistry is unique, finding a "sweet spot" requires a bit of dosage experimentation."The preliminary beneficial dosage must be taken under consideration so that the patient has a frame of reference and potential unwanted effects could be avoided," he continued. "This means the patient cannot standardize therapy and doesn't have constant enhancement, so it's important to seek the assistance of a physician before opening any product."

About Puerto Rico's Medical Cannabis Law

The people of Puerto Rico have had access to medicinal cannabis since 2015. Based on statistics published by the PR Departamento de Salud, there were 114,274 patients enrolled in the Latin American country's medical marijuana program as of March 2021.Qualified patients are limited to possessing a 30 day-supply of medical cannabis in Puerto Rico, so long as the cannabis preparation is non-smokable. Qualifying conditions for enrollment in the program, which recognizes medical cannabis registrations from other states, include:

• Alzheimer's disease

• Amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

• Anorexia

• Anxiety

• Cancer

• Conditions that cause nausea and cachexia (wasting syndrome)

• Crohn's disease

• Epilepsy

• Fibromyalgia

• Hepatitis C

• H IV/AI DS

• Migraines

• Multiple Sclerosis or other conditions that cause severe spasms

• Parkinson's disease

• Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Spinal cord injury or other conditions that cause severe pain

Since home cultivation is forbidden, consumers can only procure the plant in pharmaceutical-grade form from licensed dispensaries. Cannabis products that contain more than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are only available from certified dispensaries.Dr. Silva wrapped up the conversation by saying that for Puerto Rican residents to be approved for medical cannabis, they should fall into the eligibility criteria laid out by the Department of Health."We should even have proof, whether it's drugs, plate readings, X-Ray, pathology report, or maybe a referral from your primary care doctor or specialist. Nevertheless, the reality is that some conditions can be slightly harder to diagnose, similar to anxiousness problems or insomnia.

Written and Published by Bethan Bee Rose in Weed World Magazine Issue 160

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