How CBD oils help seniors overview
Table Of Contents
Cannabidiol or CBD is a naturally occurring substance that has been shown to help with numerous maladies.
Oftentimes, people cannot make the difference between CBD and cannabis, which exert very different functions.
Cannabis usually contains high levels of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is a psychoactive compound responsible for making you feel “high”.
On the other hand, CBD contains less than 0.3% of THC, hence not having any psychogenic effects. It is used to treat many medical conditions; CBD has gained enormous popularity over the past few years because of the scientific evidence that supports these findings.
In this article, we will discuss the major beneficial effects of CBD oils for seniors.
Reasons how CBD oils help seniors
Elderly people are particularly susceptible to developing many chronic and potentially life-threatening diseases, and the regular use of CBD oils might ease up the symptoms of these ailments and may even prevent some of them.
CBD oil is a great alternative to many drugs as it has no significant negative health side effects and is non-addictive in contrast to many pharmaceutical drugs.
Another reason CBD is so popular is that there is a wide selection of options for usage, such as many types and strengths of oils, edibles, body balms, and even coffee.
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Manages chronic pain in seniors
Chronic pain is a common chief complaint seen in hospitals; it is especially prevalent in seniors since it’s often associated with other diseases.
CBD has been used for centuries to treat chronic pain. In fact, one study suggests that marijuana was used thousands of years B.C to treat pain!
Our central nervous system contains thousands of neurotransmitters that regulate different biological functions, including sleep, metabolism, and energy expenditure.
One of those neurotransmitters is an endocannabinoid, which activates the cannabinoid receptors found in the brain.
By taking CBD oils, you will be artificially activating the cannabinoid receptors, which may create an analgesic effect, reducing pain caused by malignant disease.
This effect was supported by a recent study published in 2018.
Decreases signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety
The prevalence and incidence of major depressive disorder and different forms of anxiety have been on the rise in the past couple of decades.
This is due to the more stressful lifestyle of today; you might feel stressed at home, at work, and even on the streets.
Usually, these diseases are treated with psychotherapy and pharmaceutical drugs. The latter can be problematic since they have addictive properties (e.g. benzodiazepines).
Scientists realize CBD oils benefit seniors and are considering using them to aid in the management of depression and anxiety due to their high tolerance and minimal side effects.
In a 2019 study, researchers analyzed the effect of CBD on anxiety. 57 participants were divided into four groups, with three groups receiving a different dosage of CBD and one group receiving a placebo.
Anxiety was induced by a test known as a simulated public speaking test (SPST).
At the end of the study, participants who received the 300-mg dosage showed the best benefits compared to the other groups.
Researchers concluded the study by stating that “findings confirm the anxiolytic-like properties of CBD and are consonant with results of animal studies describing bell-shaped dose-response curves. Optimal therapeutic doses of CBD should be rigorously determined so that research findings can be adequately translated into clinical practice.”
These results can be used to promote the use of CBD for patients dealing with mental health issues.
Offers protection against neurodegenerative diseases
A large portion of seniors have to deal with neurodegenerative diseases at some point; these diseases include Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, both of which cause detrimental signs and symptoms.
The exact pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases is not clearly understood; therefore, we are unable to prevent these diseases or treat them.
What makes things even worse is the fact that the damage caused by these illnesses is irreversible. In other words, once the neurons get damaged, there is no going back.
After many clinical trials, researchers are starting to appreciate the potential role CBD could play as a protective agent of the brain.
In a 2014 study, researchers found that patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease could greatly benefit from CBD treatment.
Promotes cardiovascular health
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is considered the number one killer in the world, taking more lives than cancer every year.
It has many risk factors, including diabetes, blood hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity.
For more information about CAD, check out our other article (insert link here).
CBD can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by managing the risk factors; most notably, blood hypertension and oxidative stress.
Both of these conditions increase the risk of CAD, stroke, and blood vessel aneurysms.
CBD oils benefit seniors as it reduces blood pressure significantly according to a 2014 study.
Additionally, CBD decreases oxidative stress on a cellular level, which has been implicated in many diseases, including heart disease.
May decrease the risk of diabetes mellitus
Type 2 diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases in the whole world; it is considered a risk factor for heart disease and can cause many complications, including:
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Diabetic nephropathy
- Diabetic retinopathy
The incidence of diabetes peaks after the age of 40 and affects many seniors.
In a laboratory study, researchers found that CBD treatment could reduce the risk of diabetes by 56%.
Arthritis & other pains
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Conclusion
CBD is gaining enormous popularity in the past few years; this is due to the major health benefits scientists reported. Additionally, the use of CBD has minimal side effects that could easily be managed.
These factors contributed to improving the reputation of CBD since it was considered to be a mere hallucinogenic in the past.
I know a number of seniors, as well as non-seniors that are using CBD oils and almost all of them, agree that it’s a wonder cure for all kinds of illnesses. None of the seniors found fault with CBD oils and they all agreed it is a miracle cure.
However, and even though it appears CBD oils benefit seniors and seems to be beneficial for many patients, there is limited data to start using it as first-line therapy for the aforementioned diseases.
For this reason, we should be cautious and conduct more clinical trials and studies before jumping to any conclusions.
The fact is that CBD oils help seniors, as it shows amazing possibilities and could potentially be used as a curative and/or symptomatic treatment for many ailments, especially in seniors.
If you tried CBD oils before, feel free to share your story to let us know how it helped you. We would be thrilled to read it.