Medical Marijuana For HIV/AIDS Patients In Missouri

Missouri Patients With HIV/AIDS Qualify For Medical Marijuana

Did you know that almost 33% of HIV patients currently or in the past have used medical marijuana to help control many of the symptoms of the disease? More and more medical research is being done into medical marijuana as a treatment option for HIV and the results are promising. There aren’t many conditions that can make a person’s quality of life deteriorate quite like HIV – and any treatments that can offer some relief from the symptoms are a big deal for those who suffer from this condition. It is estimated that 1 million Americans live with HIV, and there are 40,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Luckily for residents of Missouri living with HIV, medical marijuana is now legal for use to alleviate symptoms.  Here’s what you need to know about medical marijuana for Missouri HIV patients.

 

What Is HIV?

HIV is human immunodeficiency virus, which means that it is a type of germ that attacks a person’s immune system. It makes it impossible for the human body to protect itself against other infections and sicknesses. Every little illness that most of us usually get over in a day or two, becomes a major medical emergency. Even a cold can cause a person to have serious medical needs when they are HIV positive. HIV does this by taking over the immune system’s cells called T cells, which are meant to defend the body. It then uses those cells to reproduce more of the virus, so that the body can never be rid of the virus.

 

There is no known cure – once a person is HIV positive, they will always be HIV positive. In addition to making the body susceptible to other diseases and illnesses, it also brings its own set of symptoms. These symptoms are what medications try to treat, and it’s what many researchers believe that medical marijuana could be used for.

 

How Does Medical Marijuana Help HIV/AIDS?

One of the biggest symptoms of HIV is nausea, and there is tons of research that shows that medical marijuana is very useful for treating nausea. This can help people suffering from HIV feel more comfortable eating, which helps keep their bodies healthier. They’ll be able to retain a healthier weight and get more nutrients in their bodies on a regular basis. This is a huge problem for HIV sufferers, and it’s one of the biggest ways that medical marijuana can help. It has also been shown to offer relief from chronic pain, another common issue for HIV sufferers.

 

There is some research that shows that medical marijuana could potentially inhibit the progression of HIV. There is one study in particular that showed that the replication of HIV cells in the immune system was slowed down by a marijuana medication called Denbinobin. That has led to a lot of theories about the opportunity to use medical marijuana to treat HIV. It can’t cure HIV, but it can offer sufferers a chance to live longer and healthier lifestyles. Finally, medical marijuana can help reduce anxiety and depression, both of which can plague sufferers of HIV. There is a lot of social stigma surrounding the disease, and it can make sufferers feel isolated. The relaxing effect of marijuana is often a big part of how this treatment can help.