The COVID-19 pandemic may be over, but our immune systems are still feeling the impact. After years of battling constant viral threats, from COVID-19 to seasonal flu and other infections, our body’s defense system is exhausted. Many people continue to experience lingering inflammation, frequent illnesses, and slower recovery times. This extended state of immune stress has compromised us further to chronic illness, including autoimmune diseases and even neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's. So why is our immune system still in trouble? And how do we give it its power back? Understanding immune exhaustion is the beginning of rebuilding our body's natural immunity.

A weakened immune system makes people more susceptible to disease, mental illnesses, and even sleep disorders. Now, new research indicates that immune system depletion may play an important role in the onset of Parkinson's disease, a degenerative neurologic disorder that compromises movement and cognition.

Role of Inflammation in Parkinson's Disease

Dysfunctional immune response is a leading cause of long-standing inflammation within the body, that has been found to contribute towards a multitude of conditions, including cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, depression, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

As people age, their immune system naturally becomes less effective. This deterioration, referred to as immune exhaustion, may be a key contributor to the onset and progression of Parkinson’s disease. Rebecca Wallings, a Parkinson’s Foundation Launch Award grant recipient and senior postdoctoral fellow at the University of Florida, believes that an accumulation of exhausted immune cells could be driving neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s patients.

How a Tired Immune System Might Affect Parkinson's?

Parkinson's disease is most commonly linked with the degeneration and loss of dopaminergic neurons—motor nerve cells that produce dopamine, an essential neurotransmitter for movement. While researchers have long suspected inflammation is involved in this neurodegeneration, the mechanisms are not yet well understood.

Wallings' study is on immune cell exhaustion, a process by which aging immune cells fail to control immune responses effectively. Her research indicates that instead of dampening inflammation in Parkinson's patients, attempts should be made to rejuvenate the immune system to regain its functionality.

Energy Deficiency in Immune Cells

One of the major findings of Wallings' work is the function of mitochondrial impairment in immune cell exhaustion. Mitochondria are commonly called the powerhouses of cells, as they are vital for generating energy. As mitochondria age and become inefficient, immune cells fail to function well, potentially accelerating neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease.

Wallings has found that mutations in the LRRK2 gene, a recognized genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease, are linked with defective mitochondrial function and immune cell exhaustion. Her current work includes testing various therapeutic approaches to restore mitochondrial function in immune cells with the potential to enhance the immune system and potentially prevent or treat Parkinson's disease.

Will Rejuvenating the Immune System Help in Treatment?

For decades, the standard practice in treating Parkinson's has been to suppress brain inflammation. Yet Wallings' work indicates that instead of slowing down immune responses, restoring the immune system could be a more successful strategy. By addressing mitochondrial impairment and immune resilience, researchers can potentially reverse or slow down Parkinson's disease.

Wallings is now looking into how to rejuvenate immune cells by fixing mitochondria. She studies immune cells from patients with Parkinson's as well as from healthy subjects and performs experiments on animal models to determine if rejuvenation of the immune system could result in improved disease outcomes.

Lifestyle Factors That May Affect Parkinson's Risk

While there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, some lifestyle adjustments may decrease the chances of developing the illness. Since neurodegenerative diseases are associated with chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction, developing habits that enhance immune function might prove helpful.

Diet: There is evidence to suggest that eating in accordance with the Mediterranean or MIND diets, both high in antioxidants, healthy fats, and anti-inflammatory foods, can encourage brain wellness and reduce Parkinson's risk.

Avoiding Dangerous Substances: Restricting alcohol and nicotine use can maintain a robust immune system and suppress inflammation.

Reducing Stress: Chronic stress weakens immune function, so methods such as meditation, exercise, and sufficient sleep can lead to improved overall well-being.

For many long-term cannabis users, the usual jokes about the munchies feel far removed from reality. Over recent years, emergency rooms have reported a steady rise in regular smokers arriving with sudden bouts of severe stomach distress that leave them curled up and unable to function. What makes it more troubling is that these episodes return several times a year, often leaving both patients and clinicians unsure of what is going on.

Scromiting: What is Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS)?

The source of the problem is cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), a difficult condition marked by unrelenting nausea, strong abdominal cramps and repeated vomiting that can occur four or five times an hour, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

What Is Scromiting?

Symptoms usually appear within a day of cannabis use and can linger for several days. These episodes can be so overwhelming that emergency staff have adopted the term “scromiting,” a blend of screaming and vomiting that captures how distressing it can be.

Although cases have become more common, many healthcare workers are still relatively unfamiliar with CHS because it was only identified in recent years. This makes it easy to confuse with other illnesses such as foodborne infections or stomach bugs.

“A person often will have multiple emergency visits before the condition is correctly identified, which can be very costly,” said Dr. Beatriz Carlini, a research associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine who studies the health risks linked to cannabis. Once a diagnosis is made, managing the condition can still be a challenge.

There are no approved treatments at present, and many standard nausea medications fail to bring relief, explained Dr. Chris Buresh, an emergency medicine physician with UW Medicine and Seattle Children’s Hospital.

This often pushes doctors to try less common options, including Haldol, a drug usually used to manage psychosis. Some people experience temporary improvement from applying capsaicin cream to the abdomen, as the warming sensation can help lessen discomfort for short periods.

Hot baths and showers are another frequent source of relief. Many patients report staying in the bathroom for long stretches to calm their symptoms.

“That is often something that helps confirm the diagnosis for me,” Buresh said. “People say a hot shower is the only thing that brings any comfort, and they end up using all the hot water in the home.”

Scromiting Recovery Challenges

Once the worst phase passes, long-term improvement is not always straightforward. Because CHS comes and goes, some cannabis users assume an episode was caused by something else and continue smoking, only to fall ill again, according to UW researchers.

Even for those who accept the diagnosis, quitting cannabis can be difficult due to dependence, which prolongs the cycle of nausea and vomiting, Carlini said. The only known cure is to stop cannabis use entirely.

Researchers still do not know the exact biological cause of CHS. The leading idea is that years of heavy cannabis use overstimulates receptors within the endocannabinoid system, which may disrupt the body’s usual control over nausea and vomiting, as outlined by the Cleveland Clinic.

Why this affects certain users and not others remains unclear. “We do not yet know if it is tied to wider access to cannabis, higher THC levels, or something else entirely,” Buresh said.

“There seems to be a point at which people become vulnerable to this condition, and that point varies from person to person,” he added. “Even small amounts of cannabis can trigger vomiting once someone crosses that threshold.”

A study released earlier this year by George Washington University researchers examined 1,052 people with CHS to learn more about potential risk patterns.

The findings showed that those who began using cannabis at younger ages were more likely to return to the ER with hyperemesis episodes. Many reported daily use and long-term consumption, with 44 percent using cannabis regularly for more than five years before symptoms began.

CHS is not limited to adults. Data shows that emergency visits among American adolescents have increased more than tenfold between 2016 and 2023. While overall rates tend to be higher in states where recreational cannabis is legal, the sharpest year-to-year rise in adolescent CHS cases has been recorded in states where recreational use is still against the law.

People who rely on a commonly prescribed medicine may face a kidney-related side effect that needs medical attention. This drug is routinely used for high blood pressure and heart failure, and doctors often prescribe it after a heart attack. In 2024 alone, it was issued 34.8 million times. Beyond lowering the risk of future heart attacks, strokes, and kidney problems, it also improves survival when taken for heart failure or after a cardiac event. But which medicine raises this concern?

NHS ‘Kidney’ Warning For People Taking Ramipril

Ramipril (sold under names such as Altace, Vostally, Tritace, Cardace) belongs to a group of medicines called ACE inhibitors. Doctors use it to treat a range of heart and blood vessel problems because it relaxes and widens the arteries, easing pressure on the heart and reducing blood pressure. It is usually taken as a tablet, capsule, or liquid. Although ramipril is helpful for many people managing long-term blood pressure or heart issues, it can occasionally trigger side effects. Some reactions may be strong enough to require urgent medical help.

Is Ramipril a Beta Blocker?

Ramipril is not a beta blocker. It belongs to a group of medicines called ACE inhibitors. Both ACE inhibitors and beta blockers are used for blood pressure and heart problems, but they do not work the same way.

How Ramipril Works (ACE Inhibitor)?

Ramipril stops the body from making a certain enzyme known as ACE. When this enzyme is blocked, the body produces less angiotensin II, a hormone that normally tightens the blood vessels. With less of this hormone active, the blood vessels stay more open, which lowers blood pressure and helps blood move through the body more easily.

Ramipril Side Effects

Not everyone who takes ramipril will feel unwell, yet it can cause problems for certain users. NHS advice notes that long-term use may reduce how well the kidneys work. For that reason, anyone on ramipril may need routine blood tests so that their doctor can keep an eye on kidney function.

More common side effects, which may affect more than one in a hundred people, include:

• A light skin rash
• Blurred eyesight
• A dry or tickly cough
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Headaches
• Feeling faint or dizzy

Ramipril can also lead to more serious issues, though these are rare. These include:

• Kidney concerns shown by blood in urine, little or no urination, or puffy ankles
• Possible bone marrow problems such as unusual tiredness, frequent bruising, dizziness, or fever
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes, which can suggest a liver problem
• Severe pain in the stomach

In rare situations, ramipril can cause a serious allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. The NHS advises seeking emergency help if this happens. Signs include:

• Swelling of the lips, throat, or tongue
• A tight throat or trouble swallowing
• Sudden confusion
• Fainting and not waking up normally
• Blue, grey, or pale skin, lips, or tongue
• Very rapid breathing or difficulty breathing

More information about ramipril is available on the NHS website. Always speak with your doctor before beginning or stopping any prescribed medicine.

If you begin to feel feverish or run down with body aches, your first instinct may be to take paracetamol. Known for easing a wide range of day-to-day pains, it remains one of the most commonly bought medicines in the UK, with roughly 200 million packets sold over the counter each year. Even so, it is not suitable for everyone. Some people are advised to speak to a doctor or pharmacist before using it to avoid unwanted reactions. The NHS notes that this is particularly important for anyone who has had an allergic response to medicines in the past, including paracetamol, as well as people with existing kidney or liver concerns.

What Is Paracetamol?

Paracetamol, also called acetaminophen and sold under familiar names such as Tylenol, Panadol, or Calpol, is an everyday pain and fever medicine. It works by easing discomfort and bringing down raised temperatures, which is why many people take it at the first sign of illness.

Those who should seek medical advice before using it include:

• People taking certain prescription drugs
• Anyone who has liver or kidney problems
• People who drink more alcohol than the advised weekly limit of 14 units
• People who weigh under 50kg, as they may need a lower dose
• Anyone with a past allergic reaction to paracetamol or another medicine

Paracetamol: NHS Guidance

More guidance from the NHS states: “Paracetamol is a common painkiller used to treat aches and pain. It can also be used to reduce a high temperature. It's available to buy from a pharmacy or shop, but you may be able to get 1g tablets on prescription if you have long-term pain.

“It comes as tablets, capsules, syrup, powder to mix with water, or as suppositories. The 1g tablets are only given on prescription. Paracetamol is also found in combination products that include other pain or anti-sickness ingredients. It is included in many cold and flu medicines.”

Paracetamol Use: When Extra Caution Is Needed

Paracetamol can usually be taken safely with most antibiotics and prescription treatments, though there are exceptions. People prescribed warfarin to reduce clotting risk or medicines used for epilepsy or tuberculosis, should check with a doctor before taking them.

With regard to other painkillers, the NHS explains: “It's safe to take paracetamol with other types of painkiller that do not contain paracetamol, such as ibuprofen, aspirin or codeine. Do not take paracetamol alongside other medicines that contain paracetamol. If you take two different medicines that contain paracetamol, there's a risk of overdose.”

For most adults, the standard dose is two 500 mg tablets up to four times in 24 hours, with at least four hours between each dose. No more than eight tablets should be taken in one day.

Although paracetamol remains a reliable option for most people, these reminders follow a study from the University of Nottingham that raised concerns about long-term use. The research, published last November, warned that repeated dosing in older adults may increase the risk of heart issues, stomach complications, and kidney problems.

Researchers examined the medical records of 180,483 people aged 65 and above who had been prescribed paracetamol and compared them with 402,478 people of similar age who had not taken it. The findings suggested that “prolonged paracetamol usage” could raise the likelihood of “serious complications,” including heart failure, raised blood pressure, gastric ulcers, and chronic kidney disease.

Because of this, the authors called for a “careful reconsideration” of paracetamol as the first option for managing long-term pain.

Lead researcher Professor Weiya Zhang commented, as per The Miiror, “Whilst further research is now needed to confirm our findings, given its minimal pain-relief effect, the use of paracetamol as a first-line pain killer for long-term conditions such as osteoarthritis in older people needs to be carefully considered.”

For more detailed guidance, consult the NHS website. Always check the packaging when using products such as Disprol, Hedex, Medinol, Panadol, or any other medicine that contains paracetamol, as the dosage and instructions can differ.