October 19, 2020

During and After Surgery, Pot Users Need More Anesthesia, Painkillers: Study

TUESDAY, Oct. 6, 2020 -- Marijuana users appear to need more anesthesia than nonusers, and also more opioids to relieve their pain after surgery, a new, preliminary study reports.

Users of cannabis products who had surgery for a broken leg required higher doses of sevoflurane, an inhaled anesthetic that keeps you asleep during a procedure. These folks also required nearly 60% more opioid painkillers per day while recuperating in the hospital, the researchers found.

October 15, 2020

Bogus 'Cure' Claims Have U.S. Consumers Snapping Up CBD Products

THURSDAY, Oct. 15, 2020 -- CBD has been widely marketed as a cure-all for whatever ails you, and a new study finds many Americans are buying the sales pitch.

Researchers tracking a Reddit forum on CBD found many folks discussing use of cannabidiol to treat conditions for which there are proven, safe and effective medicines and therapies.

September 21, 2020

Getting a Hip Replacement? Choice of Hospital Can Be Crucial

FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2020 -- The COVID-19 pandemic has shown a spotlight on disparities in the U.S. health care system. But the issues are longstanding, and -- as one large study illustrates -- extend into a common elective surgery.

Researchers found that when hip replacement surgery is done at a "safety net" hospital designed to serve the poor and uninsured, patients' risks are higher. Of more than 500,000 Americans who had the surgery, those at safety net hospitals were 11% more likely to have postoperative complications, like infections or heart problems.