Insomnia and sleeping disorders are common among people of all age groups. However, problems related to sleep are more prevalent in seniors. CBD (cannabidiol) is one of the chemical constituents present in the plants of the cannabis family. The chemical component is a non-psychoactive compound meaning it is not responsible for causing any psychoactive effects on its users.
Research has revealed several therapeutic benefits of CBD related to physical and psychological health conditions. Insomnia and sleeping disorders are one of them, and we’ll further discuss how CBD helps treat insomnia among seniors in this article. According to some research, CBD helps treat insomnia by acting upon the underlying factors causing it. For instance, anxiety, depression, stress, pain, etc., can lead to sleeping disorders. However, in seniors, even physical factors may cause sleeping disorders.
How to take CBD to treat insomnia?
There is a wide range of CBD supplements available in the market lately. You could start one by visiting i49, where you can read articles about the significant contribution of CBD to wellbeing. Since the sale and use of hemp is legal in almost all the states of the United States of America, finding a CBD (cannabidiol) supplement shouldn’t be that hard as well. Most users prefer strongest CBD pills as it is easy to consume and measure the dosage as well. However, other forms such as CBD edibles, pills, tropicals like lip balms, hemp flowers for rolling into cigarettes, and creams are also available.
What causes insomnia in seniors?
Now that we’ve established that CBD (cannabidiol) helps alleviate insomnia by acting upon the underlying factors, it’s essential to know what they are. Mayo Clinic suggests that the following are the common causes of insomnia among seniors.
- Changes in sleep pattern: As people age, their sleeping patterns start to change. Older adults generally tend to feel tired early in the evening and wake up early in the morning. Therefore, any slight noise or disturbance may wake them up from sleep.
- Health conditions: Both physical and psychological health conditions affect sleep. For instance, restless leg syndrome, joint and back pain, arthritis, etc., are prevalent among older adults. Similarly, they are also more likely to suffer from psychological conditions such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, etc., resulting in insomnia.
- Synthetic medication: Almost all older adults take synthetic medicines body’s to alleviate the usual health conditions. Most conventional medications may also lead to insomnia in several cases.
CBD and Insomnia
Now that we’ve understood the primary causes of insomnia among older adults. Let’s have a look at how CBD helps in alleviating such conditions, ultimately treating insomnia.
Anxiety and depression
One of the most primary and renowned therapeutic benefits of CBD is its anti-anxiety properties. Serotonin, one of the primary neurotransmitters of the human body, responsible for depression and anxiety. Having both higher and lower serotonin levels may affect your mood and cause psychological health conditions. CBD (cannabidiol) interacts with the CB1 and CB2 receptors of the endocannabinoid system (ECS). It is present in the peripheral and central nervous systems of the body. CBD acts as an external endocannabinoid that triggers the receptors and regulates serotonin levels. Therefore, the right balance in the serotonin levels alleviates psychological health conditions like anxiety, depression, etc. CBD helps in treating various forms of anxiety, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), etc.
Chronic pain and discomfort
Physical discomfort and pain are an integral part of life. However, it is more severe among older adults. The potent anti-inflammatory properties of CBD are responsible for affecting the inflammatory messenger activity, reducing any pain and discomfort. CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and restricts the receptor activity receiving pain signals. Those receptors not only receive pain signals from various stimuli but help in cell response as well. Therefore, by blocking the pain signals, CBD acts as a pain killer alleviating all sorts of physical pain. Many studies reveal that CBD helps immensely in treating arthritis, a prevalent health condition among older adults.
Stress
Any form of stress, either physical or psychological, may result in psychological complications like depression, which in turn cause insomnia. CBD relieves stress by regulating the levels of cortisol, the hormone responsible for stress. Indulging in strenuous physical activity may also raise cortisol levels. It’s evident that CBD interacts with the CB1 and CB2 receptors and reduces the body’s cortisol levels. That may be one reason why users feel relaxed and calm after consuming CBD (cannabidiol). Therefore, a person may sleep better with no stress or bothering thoughts on the mind.
Alternative to synthetic medication
When one experiences any discomfort, they turn to diagnosis and synthetic medication. However, using synthetic medication may result in insomnia, as mentioned above. By taking CBD as an alternative to synthetic medication to treat various health conditions like epilepsy, depression, joint pain, etc., you can rest assured about the sleeping patterns.
Final Thoughts
CBD may help treat insomnia and various other health conditions. However, more research is required to prove its efficiency as a medication. Dosage also plays a crucial role in consuming CBD. You must realize that the effects of CBD vary from person to person. Therefore, it is better to try and analyze the appropriate dosage by starting with the least amounts. Advice from a medical professional may also help know whether CBD may affect any other undergoing treatment or medication. Overall, it’s better to prefer high-quality CBD products and stick to a lower dosage to evade any side effects.