Dr. Dung Trinh is a chief medical officer of Astiva Health, a board member of Alzheimer’s Orange County, and the founder of the Physicians Cannabinoid Council.
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Dr. Trinh, Is Inflammation – Good or Bad?
Dr. Trinh helped us uncover what inflammation is and whether it is good or bad. “Inflammation is like a fever; when you have a cold or another injury, your immune system sends “soldiers” to defend your body and promote healing in that area, causing redness, swelling, and heat, which is a normal and healthy response. “But imagine having a fever every day for a month,” that would be a concern. If your body is going through constant inflammation, or chronic inflammation, that’s like, “going to war…and experiencing a friendly fire.” The answer is: that chronic inflammation is harmful.
Chronic Inflammation as a Cause of Disease
One example of chronic inflammation is heart disease. When someone is diagnosed with heart disease, we immediately think the cause of the problem is clogged arteries from cholesterol and plaque buildup. “But why does the cholesterol get stuck to your artery?”
The cholesterol binds to the arteries because the lining of the artery becomes damaged, making the lining sticky. “Where does the damage come from?” Arterial damage is caused by chronic inflammation.
Using many other examples, Dr. Trinh says that inflammation is the true cause of chronic disease in many parts of your body, including arthritis in your joints, encephalitis in the lungs, and health issues in the brain like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
What Can We Do About Inflammation?
To avoid inflammation, you should know that it is primarily caused by our lifestyles. Through proper nutrition and stress control, you can reduce inflammation in your body. Try to incorporate more anti-inflammatory foods like fish oil, turmeric, garlic, cinnamon, and other supplements and vitamins. Also, you should avoid pro-inflammatory foods such as sugar, fried foods, red meats, and fast food.
Inflammation is also caused by excess amounts of stress hormones, like cortisol. A study demonstrates that yoga poses and meditation can help lower the risk of Alzheimer’s by reducing stress and reducing inflammation.
What About Cannabis?
Another way to reduce inflammation is through cannabis. Cannabis stimulates the endocannabinoid system, a regulatory system in your body, like your nervous system or endocrine system. The endocannabinoid system’s primary function is to bring your body into a state of balance, which Dr. Trinh uses the scientific term for: “homeostasis.” By stimulating the endocannabinoid system, cannabis can reduce inflammation and create balance since inflammation is a state of imbalance in your body.
Dr. Dung Trinh has a lot of experience with patients coming to him with cannabidiol products, optimistic about how it makes them feel. Many of his patients told Dr. Trinh they are taking far fewer prescription pain medications, sleeping better, experiencing less anxiety, and finding relief from PTSD, multiple sclerosis, and many other conditions. After hearing their stories, he went to look for more research to explain their testimonies, which is how he became an advocate for cannabis and its reported positive effects on inflammation.
Conclusion
According to Dr. Trinh, more research needs to be done on the effects of cannabis and inflammation on specific chronic diseases, but the implications could potentially be significant. Nevertheless, Dr. Trinh insists that before self-medicating with CBD or other cannabinoid extracts related products, you should speak to a doctor to understand how it can interact with your current medications. There is no major side effect to CBD alone, but since all medications are filtered through the liver, you want to ensure when to take the proper medication and not favor CBD over something else that may be crucial to your health.
![This is sponsored content. SeniorAffair.com has partnered with Care.com, and this post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase or sign up through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. As always, our recommendations reflect what we genuinely believe will help our readers. Quick answer: Care.com is an online marketplace where you can search for in-home senior caregivers by the exact skills your family needs—companionship, meal prep, medication reminders, dementia support, and more—compare rates and reviews, and message or video-interview candidates before hiring. You can even search for senior living communities. Every individual caregiver starts with a required background check, though families should still do their own additional vetting. Care.com membership starts at $12.99/month. Key Takeaways Care.com lets you filter caregivers by specific skills—meal prep, transportation, personal care, dementia support, and more. 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We always encourage families to conduct their own additional vetting: talk with caregivers directly, check references, ask detailed questions about experience with your loved one's specific needs, and trust your instincts during video interviews before anyone sets foot in the home. It's also worth taking a few minutes to verify the details in any caregiver profile or job posting, since families are ultimately responsible for confirming that information is accurate. What Does Care.com Cost for Senior Care? As of 2026, Care.com's premium membership for families starts at $12.99/month, depending on the length of the plan you choose—you can search by skills, experience, and hourly rate to find care that fits your needs and your budget. What Is the Care.com Senior Care Advisor Service? For families who feel stuck before they've even started—who don't know whether Mom needs a few hours of help a week or a full conversation about assisted living—Care.com also offers Senior Care Advisor. 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[INTERNAL LINK: our Medicare/Medicaid senior care coverage guide] It's designed for exactly the moment so many of us find ourselves in: knowing something has to change, but not knowing where to begin—and not wanting to figure it out completely alone. → Learn more about the Senior Care Advisor on Care.com You're Not the Only One Feeling This If you're the adult child juggling this search alongside a job, your own kids, and a life that already felt full, the guilt of "should I be doing this myself" is real. So is the exhaustion of not knowing where to even start looking. Those feelings are common, not a sign you're falling short. Having a structured way to search—filtered by the specific help your loved one needs, backed by reviews from families who've been exactly where you are—takes some of that weight off, even if it doesn't remove it entirely. How to Get Started on Care.com You don't need to have everything figured out to start searching. You can browse caregiver profiles freely, get a feel for who's available in your area, and filter by exactly what your family needs—whether that's someone a few hours a week for companionship or more consistent daily support. When you're ready, you can become a member to message caregivers, schedule video interviews, and compare your options side by side before hiring. Caregiving decisions are personal, and they rarely feel simple. But having a clear, organized way to search—instead of piecing it together from scratch—can make a genuinely hard season a little more manageable. Because while you want to care for everyone you love, it can't always be you. When it's not you, it's Care.com™. Frequently Asked Questions About Care.com for Senior Care Is Care.com legit for finding senior care? Yes. Care.com is a long-running online marketplace connecting families with caregivers, including for senior and adult care. Every individual caregiver starts with a required background check, and the platform offers safety monitoring and a 24/7 safety hotline—though families should still do their own vetting before hiring. How much does Care.com cost for senior care? As of 2026, a Care.com membership starts at $12.99/month, depending on the length of the plan you choose. Does every caregiver on Care.com have a background check? Yes—every individual caregiver on Care.com's platform starts with a required background check. Families are still encouraged to do additional vetting, such as checking references and conducting video interviews, since a background check is a starting point rather than a full screening on the family's behalf. What is Care.com Senior Care Advisor? It's a paid, one-time service that gives you 90 days of access to a dedicated advisor—typically a master's-level social worker—who builds a personalized care plan for your family, covering options like in-home care, senior living, and navigating Medicare and Medicaid. It also includes 90 days of Care.com membership. Can I find caregivers with memory care or dementia experience on Care.com? Yes. You can search for memory care and dementia experience and compare reviews from other families who've hired caregivers for similar needs. Does Care.com offer senior living community listings? Care.com's core search focuses on in-home caregivers, but it also provides information on options outside the home, including senior living communities and adult day programs. → Start your search on Care.com Disclaimer: Care.com does not employ or place caregivers, provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, or engage in any conduct that requires a professional license, including in connection with certain senior caregiving services. Families are encouraged to verify the accuracy of information in caregiver profiles, job postings, and other areas of the site. Pricing is subject to change; confirm current rates on Care.com directly. "Care.com" and "When it's not you, it's Care.com™" are service marks or registered service marks of Care.com, Inc](https://senioraffair.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/How-to-Find-Senior-Care-for-a-Parent-A-Practical-Guide-to-Getting-Started-218x150.jpeg "How to Find Senior Care for a Parent: A Practical Guide to Getting Started")
