By Joseph Jaramillo.
There is a recent rise in senior cannabis use because they are the demographic who can benefit from it most. In fact, there are many ways cannabis therapy can help seniors live happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives. The unfortunate effect time has on our bodies is one that cannot be ignored. As the body ages, many physical, mental and emotional problems arise making life in the golden years less than satisfactory for many seniors.
To reduce the physical, mental and emotional burdens put on the aging body, seniors often find themselves stuck in a prescription medicine regimen that in and of itself can take a toll on the body. It has also been shown to improve the efficiency of medication, allowing seniors to medicate less often without discomfort which reduces the likelihood of dependence.
The importance of reducing prescription drug use among seniors should not be understated. Drug abuse among people over the age of 65 is a growing epidemic; nearly 50 percent of opioid prescriptions were doled out to seniors in 2013 which is an increase of more than 20 percent over the previous five years. The issue becomes apparent when considering the market.
Seniors are more likely to take multiple prescriptions, and may abuse or misuse their medication for many reasons including forgetfulness, increased tolerance and worsening medical conditions. This leaves older adults more susceptible to drug-related injuries as they attempt to juggle multiple medications at a time.
By using cannabis to supplement prescription medications, seniors can help protect their bodies from a prescription drug cocktail. Cannabis and its therapeutic potential spans well beyond its ability to treat pain and promote sleep. Another important benefit of senior cannabis consumption lies in its ability to improve the mood of its users. This is especially beneficial to the elderly given their increased likelihood for depression.
Enter again our hero, cannabis as a treatment for depression is well-known, and can have some amazing benefits on other areas of health, as well. Rather than suffer a decline in health due to depressive symptoms, seniors who use cannabis for depression can experience elevated mood, increased sociability and improved health. Cannabis’s tendency to promote laughter is one more reason it can improve the health of senior citizens. Some surprising benefits of laughter include increased immune system functioning, heart protection, decreased stress levels, decreased pain and relaxed muscles. Research also shows that laughter increases life span which means that seniors who use cannabis will not only be happier, but will live longer to enjoy their happier life, too. Not only that, but because cannabis is largely a communal activity, seniors who consume cannabis may have a more active social life and therefore maintain a vital social connection. As the body ages, health problems increase. The unfortunate result of this is an increased dependency on drugs and alcohol which can actually have a countereffect on health, especially when these substances are abused. But cannabis use can be very beneficial to seniors, and many are starting to understand how profound these benefits are.
Though there is no clear reason for the increase in senior cannabis use, we can speculate that it’s due to factors like an increased acceptance of cannabis. Seniors aged 65 and up are the fastest growing demographic of cannabis users. In fact, a survey of 47,000 people aged 50 and up found that cannabis use has increased 250 percent for those over 65. A 2018 study of seniors found 93 percent of patients felt improvement from symptoms like pain after taking cannabis for six months. 18 percent of patients stopped or reduced taking opioids by using cannabis that’s because , like the rest of the population, seniors are opting to use cannabis for medical ailments.
Chronic pain is at the top of the list from fibromyalgia to arthritis and nerve pain, chronic pain debilitates many seniors. However cannabis for seniors is changing that. Cannabis can help treat neuropathic pain and pain caused by arthritis and inflammation because of the body’s endocannabinoid system.
When cannabis is ingested its compounds, including THC and CBD, inhibit pro-inflammatory molecules in the body and interact with other natural painkilling systems, like the body’s endogenous opioid system. Seniors don’t have to smoke for pain relief. There are tons of edible and topical options available. As it is 800,000 Americans suffer from Crohn’s Disease, An inflammatory bowel disease that causes abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and weight loss. It’s a tough condition to live with and does not have a cure. In fact it seriously affects the suffers quality of life. There is some preliminary evidence to suggest cannabis can actually help send Crohn’s disease into remission. That’s because Crohn’s is basically an inflamed gastrointestinal tract and cannabis fights that with its anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, there are cannabinoid receptors throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Plus, according to a 2016 study Crohn’s patients who used cannabis had no negative side effects and had increased appetites. Cannabis for Seniors is definitely worth considering for Crohn’s treatment. Multiple Sclerosis affects more than 2.5 million people of all ages. Symptoms of MS include muscle spasms, gastrointestinal distress, and pain, both muscular and neurological. Cannabis can help relieve MS symptoms, therefore improving the quality of life for patients. Cannabis is one of a few substances that can promote neurogenesis making it ideal for MS.Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness for people over 60. Glaucoma is a condition of increased pressure in the eye caused by fluid buildup that damages the nerves. To combat glaucoma, patients need to relieve that pressure, which is typically done by prescription eye drops. Cannabis naturally relieves that pressure and the effect last for hours.
Cannabis can be an effective treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s and Dementia, it sounds counterintuitive, but studies have shown that micro-doses of thc have the ability to slow down and even reverse the production of beta-amyloid proteins in the brain.
These proteins are toxic and form plaques that prevent the brain from accessing information. That’s where cannabis for Seniors comes in THC interacts with the brains own natural endocannabinoids to prevent cell death and fight build up.
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder that causes dopamine- producing brain cells to die. Because dopamine helps the body control muscles and move smoothly Parkinson’s is characterized by uncontrollable tremors, shaking, and muscle spasms. Dopamine deficiencies also cause symptoms like loss of balance, sleep issues, memory loss and Dementia. The exact cause of dopamine-producing cells to die is still unknown and there is no effective treatment for Parkinson’s only medication to help mitigate symptoms. However a study in Israel on the effects of cannabis on Parkinson’s disease found symptoms like tumors and rigidity were significantly decreased after patients smoked cannabis. Cannabis clearly helps side effects with cancer and it’s treatment like chemotherapy, including pain and nausea. But further research has also shown that cannabis kills cancer cells, plus the plants compounds have been shown to slow the proliferation of different types of cancers. What’s more, researchers from Vanderbilt University School of medicine found cannabis to prevent Metastasis, which is the spreading of cancer cells to healthy tissue. Appetite is another senior benefit as it is common for Seniors, especially those in pain to lose there appetites and their desire to eat. It’s not only hard to watch, it can be lethal. In fact according to a 2016 study seniors account for 78 percent of anorexia deaths.
The elderly can also suffer from insomnia and difficulty staying asleep. Sleep is crucial to living a healthy life and for recovering from sickness and injury. Certain types of cannabis, like Indica strains, are known to relax the body and make people sleepy. Even “highless” cannabis products like CBD have sleep inducing and pain relieving properties.
Provide Grandma or Grandpa with a low- THC high CBD strain for depression and see how they feel. Its our responsibility to inform and educate our elderly on the medicinal properties of cannabis and the benefits it can have on ones life. Be helpful and kind.
Peace and love.
