(BPT) - Before you reach into that jar of CBD gummies, or add some CBD oil to your bath, proceed carefully. Do you really know what’s in that “miracle cure” that you purchased online or at the health store for anxiety or your aching back?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a component of the cannabis plant lacking the “high” associated with marijuana, and right now products claiming to contain CBD are everywhere — from gummies to cocktails, ice cream to hand cream, and more. An estimated 64 million consumers, according to a January 2019 Consumer Reports survey, have tried products containing CBD in the past two years alone.

With widespread marketing that is largely unregulated, CBD purchased online or at stores is often promoted as a one-stop product for a range of potential health benefits, such as relieving stress, soothing aches and pains, reducing inflammation or improving sleep.

Interest in — and access to — CBD increased with the passage of the Farm Bill which removed CBD derived from hemp (a variety of cannabis that contains very low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol or THC) from the list of controlled substances. Although CBD products are now available online or in many stores, health or medical claims made by the product manufacturers are still subject to regulation by the FDA to ensure consumer safety. Through all the current interest surrounding CBD one critical question remains: Are widely available CBD products safe and effective?

Separating fact from fiction

The contents and dosage of CBD products sold in retail stores or online are often unknown and not consistently, if at all, regulated. To navigate the current environment, consumers first need to understand that not all CBD products are equal:

• FDA-approved drugs have been studied in a rigorous scientific process, including clinical trials to understand their safety profile and effectiveness for specific medical conditions. Non-FDA approved CBD products are not studied this way and there is no credible scientific evidence backing any medical claims made about these products.
  
  
• To ensure consistency and quality, FDA-approved medications are tested and manufactured to meet strict federal regulations. Testing standards for non-FDA approved CBD products vary by state, with some requiring no testing. Because of the lack of testing standards, these products may not contain what their labels say.
  
  
• Many believe that CBD is natural and therefore safe for general use — this is untrue. As demonstrated in controlled clinical trials, CBD can interact with other medicines or cause side effects. The use of CBD products should be monitored by a health care provider, such as your doctor.
  
  
• Only FDA-approved CBD medicines are dispensed by pharmacies and covered by health insurance.

So, what’s the bottom line for the millions of people currently using CBD products? As the saying goes, the smart consumer is the wise consumer. The FDA approval process is considered by many to be the gold standard in the medical field and was put in place to protect patients. Taking unregulated CBD products that lack scientific evidence can pose health risks, particularly for very sick patients who may be looking for hope in these products, in part, because of unproven health claims.

You deserve to know what you’re taking

It can be difficult to know if CBD products actually contain what they claim. A 2017 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that almost 70% of all CBD products sold online did not contain the amount of CBD stated on the label — 42% contained a higher concentration of CBD than the label claimed, and 26% of the products contained less. Twenty percent included enough unlabeled THC to cause intoxication, especially in children. The FDA also evaluated some of these products and found that they did not contain the levels of CBD that they claimed. More studies and regulations are needed to ensure these products are safe for consumer use.

An important moment in the evolution of CBD occurred in June 2018 when the FDA approved Epidiolex^® (cannabidiol) oral solution CV, the first prescription CBD medicine. Because it is a prescription, available in pharmacies just like any other FDA-approved medicine, it is legal throughout the entire U.S. when prescribed by a licensed health care professional. It is the only FDA-approved CBD product currently available.

“The approval of Epidiolex is historic not only for the long-awaited relief it provides patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, two very difficult-to-treat epilepsies, but also for the parameters it has put in place for how a CBD medicine should be studied to understand its safety profile and efficacy,” said Justin Gover, CEO of GW Pharmaceuticals, plc, the company responsible for Epidiolex. “We hope that this opens the door for further well-controlled clinical studies of CBD in other medical conditions to achieve FDA approval and ensure patients are getting the medicines they deserve.”

To learn more, visit www.StraightFactsCBD.com. Epidiolex safety information can be found at www.Epidiolex.com.

This sponsored article is presented by Brandpoint.

(BPT) - Every day nearly 200 people die from an overdose of drugs or from alcohol poisoning, with opioids responsible for the majority. Recognizing the signs and knowing how to respond to medical emergencies, including carrying and administering naloxone in cases of opioid overdose, can save lives, says the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).

“The tragic increase in overdose deaths is an alarming and devastating issue that touches so many of us,” said ASA President Mary Dale Peterson, M.D., MSHCA, FACHE, FASA. “If you can identify an overdose or alcohol poisoning, you are more likely to react quickly, making the difference between life and death for a family member, friend or stranger.”

Physician anesthesiologists have a critical role in fighting against overdoses, starting with managing patients’ pain after surgery or chronic pain in responsible ways. During Physician Anesthesiologists Week, Jan. 26-Feb. 1, ASA is joining forces with U.S. Surgeon General VADM, Jerome Adams, M.D., M.P.H., to empower everyone to recognize the following signs of an overdose or alcohol poisoning:

• Shallow, slow or irregular breathing (less than eight breaths a minute or a gap of more than 10 seconds between breaths)
• Extreme sleepiness or unconsciousness (e.g., “passed out”)
• Inability to talk
• Blue or gray skin color, with dark lips and fingernails
• Snoring or gurgling sounds
• Confusion
• Vomiting
• Seizures
• Low body temperature

Any one of these signs should prompt a call to 911 for emergency medical care. Never leave an unconscious person alone, as they may be at risk of dying, including by choking on his or her own vomit. If an opioid overdose is suspected, naloxone should be administered immediately, if available. Naloxone is administered by injection or nasal spray and access to it is expanding on a state-by-state basis. It can be prescribed by a physician and often is carried by police officers and emergency medical responders. Additionally, it’s increasingly available over the counter at some pharmacies.

“To stem the tide of the opioid overdose epidemic, we need everyone to consider themselves a first responder. We need to encourage everyone in our communities to carry naloxone and know how to use it,” said U.S. Surgeon General, VADM, Jerome M. Adams, M.D., M.P.H., a physician anesthesiologist who issued a Surgeon’s General’s advisory in 2018 calling for increased awareness and use of the medication. “When on hand, naloxone may mean the difference between life and death, and can be a first step to getting someone onto the pathway of recovery.”

Anyone who takes opioids to manage their pain may be at-risk for an overdose. In recent years, opioids were the go-to pain reliever for everything from backaches and injuries to post-surgical and chronic pain. In 2017, more than 190 million prescriptions were written for opioids. While they can be effective for short-term pain, chronic use can lead to abuse. Every day 130 people die from opioid overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“ASA strongly agrees with the Surgeon General and supports policies that promote access to naloxone and safe and effective pain management care,” said Dr. Peterson. “All of our members have a significant interest in reducing misuse, abuse and diversion of opioids that have led to unintended deaths.”

To learn more about the critical role physician anesthesiologists play before, during and after surgery, visit asahq.org/WhenSecondsCount. ASA also offers an opioid overdose resuscitation guide that provides guidance on symptoms of an overdose and how to help.

Migraines are not an easy thing to deal with. For most people, the onset of a migraine calls for a dark room and resting in bed. Although migraines seem to happen out of nowhere, there are usually some reasons why they even appear in the first place. Therefore, the following list includes some of the most common reasons why you may be getting constant migraines.

Stress

Recent studies have concluded that stress is the number one factor when it comes to the reason why people are getting migraines. In fact, over 50 percent of people associate their migraines with stressing. Look back to your past few weeks at work or school. Figure out what things are causing you great stress and how you can reduce those triggers. You can then add additional preventive measures, such as getting relaxation therapy, setting aside time for exercise and making sure you get enough sleep each night.

Vision Problems

Although rarer than most reasons, vision problems such as nearsighted, farsighted, or astigmatism can be the reason behind your migraines. Often, it is the pressure to work on our computers for long hours, or your eyes are simply losing their strength as you age. You should have a regular eye exam to test for common eye disorders. This will provide you with some treatment options; however, reducing the amount of computer/phone time should also be practiced as well.

Medication Overuse

One of the most overlooked reasons for migraines is medication overuse. As the old saying goes, too much of something good can be bad. This is essentially the reasoning behind this theory. Medication that is continuously used and in heavy doses may cause you to experience those constant migraines. Therefore, people are recommended to cycle off their medication in order to remove any harmful toxins that may reside within them. Often, people need to get special help from a doctor to withdraw from these medications that put them at risk for rebound pain or dependency. Note that you should first consult with your physician about this theory and work together to reduce your medication enough to where migraines are either entirely gone or significantly reduced.

Although the information above describes the most common triggers for migraines, there are plenty of more reasons to go around. Also, people can suffer migraines depending on certain situations and conditions that are unique to them. Therefore, it is always recommended that you research some of the reasons behind your migraines and speak with a medical professional in order to receive a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

5 Tips for Coping with Chronic Pain

(Family Features) Pain can impact nearly every aspect of your daily life from cleaning the house to going to work or playing with your kids. In fact, according to the Institute of Medicine, 100 million Americans, or more than 30 percent of the population of the United States, suffer from chronic pain, which is pain lasting 3-6 months or longer.

Most often, chronic pain is treated using prescription opioids. However, the National Institutes of Health estimates 2 million people in the U.S. suffer from substance use disorders related to prescription pain relievers, while 60 people die every day as a result of opioid overdoses, according to the National Safety Council.

"The country is facing intertwined crises of opioid misuse and chronic pain management. Non-opioid, non-pharmacological treatments such as acupuncture and other similar interventions can be essential in handling patients' pain management as a complement to lessen dependency on opioid prescriptions and serve as a more effective holistic therapy for chronic pain," said Dr. Kory Ward-Cook, chief executive officer of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). "The care provided by NCCAOM National Board-Certified Acupuncturists is essential in continuing the movement toward greater integrative and complementary pain care, especially as a non-pharmaceutical alternative to harmful opioid prescriptions."

To help treat your pain with a non-opioid solution, consider these tips:

Set Goals for Yourself
Setting realistic, measurable goals that focus on functional health and quality of life is essential to managing chronic pain. Outline specific, measurable goals you hope to achieve, such as exercising for 30 minutes three days a week or cleaning at least one room in the house twice a week and track your progress toward reaching them.

Use Relaxation Techniques
There are a variety of techniques, including meditation and deep breathing, that can help your body relax by slowing breathing, lowering blood pressure and instilling feelings of well-being. Giving your muscles a chance to relax can release tension, which may ease pain. Practicing yoga or tai chi, which involve a series of physical postures in addition to breathing and relaxation techniques, may also help reduce pain.

Consider Non-Pharmaceutical Treatment Options
With concerns mounting about the prevalence of opioid use and abuse in the U.S., complementary, natural treatments such as acupuncture can help alleviate pain and reduce the number of opioids prescribed. Using practices derived from traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncturists stimulate specific points on the body, most often by inserting thin needles through the skin. For example, National Board-Certified Acupuncturists, whose credentials can be verified through the NCCAOM, are affirmed to have the education and training necessary to competently deliver acupuncture services. To learn more about how acupuncture can help with pain management or addiction, or to find a practitioner in your area, visit nccaom.org.

Focus on Nutrition
A well-balanced diet is vital to overall health and well-being and can also influence chronic pain. As food choices can increase or decrease inflammation, which leads to many chronic diseases, consider a diet low in sugar and carbohydrates that includes fresh, organic fruits and vegetables; lean, grass-fed meats; legumes; nuts; whole grains; and organic dairy products.

Keep Track of Progress
To effectively manage and treat your pain, consider keeping a journal to note your pain level on a scale of 1-10 each day. Also track your activity during the day - including time on your feet, exercise and even sitting at your desk - so you can identify patterns based on what you do and how you feel afterward. Then use the connections you've made to modify your environment and schedule as necessary.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images