Useful Tips for Cachexia Treatment in Arizona

Arizona is a populous state in the United States’ southwestern region. It is the home of the Grand Canyon National Park, which is among the seven natural wonders in the world. The state has a flourishing healthcare industry, which includes medical cannabis.

The cannabis plant is growing in popularity in the medical sector due to its effectiveness in treating illnesses like cachexia. The state legalized its use in 2015. However, you should have a medical marijuana card in Arizona to purchase the product legally.

What is Cachexia?

Cachexia is an underlying condition characterized by severe muscle loss and weight loss. Several illnesses are possible causes of cachexia, including chronic kidney disease, HIV/AIDS, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, and cancer. Approximately 50% of cancer patients, particularly those with pancreatic and upper gastrointestinal cancers, have cachexia.

Signs and symptoms of Cachexia

Doctors may face difficulty in making a cachexia diagnosis, as there are no proven criteria yet. However, here are some of the signs and symptoms of the disease:

  • Skeletal muscle wasting – The significant loss of muscle mass is the main indication of the condition. The disease can be hard to detect, especially in obese individuals, who can lose a lot of muscle mass without visible physical indicators.
  • Involuntary weight loss – People with the disease will experience an unexplained or unintentional significant loss in weight even if they eat a sufficient amount of food.
  • Decline in physical activities and capabilities – If you have the disease, you may find difficulty in walking or performing physical activities you previously do with ease.
  • Loss of appetite – Another symptom of cachexia is the lack of energy to eat or loss of desire to consume food.
  • Low level of body fats – You may be suffering from the disease if your body fat is less than 10%.

How to Manage Cachexia Successfully

In managing the disease, doctors first treat the conditions hindering the patient’s ability to eat or reducing his/her appetite. Some of them include constipation, mouth sores, nausea, gastroparesis, and vomiting. Here are other suggested cachexia treatments:

  • Medical cannabis – Experts recommend medical marijuana as cachexia treatment due to its many benefits. It can serve as an appetite stimulant, and remedy to prevent pain, nausea, and vomiting. Don’t forget to bring your medical marijuana card in Arizona when you buy your supply.
  • Dietary supplements and appetite stimulants – Studies showed nutritional supplements, like amino acid and omega-3 fatty acids, enhanced the levels of inflammatory markers that occur with cachexia. Among the amino acid supplements are L-Arginine, L-Carnitine, and glutamine. Appetite stimulants like testosterone, medroxyprogesterone, corticosteroids, and megestrol acetate are also used to treat the condition. A change in your diet may also improve your situation. Doctors prescribe eating small meals consisting of calorie-dense foods frequently to avoid ‘overfeeding syndrome.’
  • Anti-inflammatory drugs – Taking drugs like Celebrex (celecoxib) can help reduce inflammation (if any). Swelling is usually characterized by high C reactive protein levels in the body.
  • Regular exercise – Although weakness and difficulty of movements are among the effects of cachexia, physical activities can have many benefits to improve your condition. Various research showed that regular exercise could stimulate your skeletal muscle mass and slow its decline. Exercising can also lessen muscle inflammation and enhance metabolism.

 

Suffering from cachexia can be depressing as it will adversely affect your physical look and movements. Try the above recommendations and use what works for you to improve your condition.

Alex huge

I am Professional Blogger and Writer