Old age does have its highlights, like playing with your grandkids, watching your children grow, and enjoying the calm life of retirement; however, there are also a lot of problems associated with old age that affect the life quality of seniors.
As we grow older, our bodies can deteriorate and become more prone to several diseases and disorders. From arthritis and weaker muscles to mental deterioration disorders like Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, there are many problems that can take a toll on the quality of life of seniors.
Studies have shown that cannabis has a lot of medical benefits, and these studies have also led to the legalization of cannabis in Canada. Weed can be quite useful for seniors, as it can help them deal with several problems that come with old age.
Therefore, today I will tell you about six ways in which cannabis can improve the quality of life for seniors. So, read on to learn more.
Cannabis can help counter chronic pain
Arthritis is a common and serious problem that many seniors have to deal with. According to the WHO, an estimated 9.6% of men and 18.0% of women over the age of 60 have to deal with arthritis worldwide. Moreover, 80% of these people experience limitations in their movement, and about 25% can do their day to day activities.
Living in constant pain is obviously quite challenging, and apart from causing extreme discomfort, it also affects one’s mental health and sleeps. Therefore, dealing with it is important, and one of the best natural ways to do so is to use cannabis.
Weed is known to have painkilling properties, as it can block your pain receptors. Furthermore, it is an active anti-inflammatory substance; therefore, it can counter inflammation and decrease the severity of pain and discomfort caused by arthritis.
Cannabis can help you sleep better
Having a healthy sleep routine is essential for a healthy life, especially in old age. Experts suggest that seniors should get at least 7-9 hours of sleep every day. However, because of several issues like chronic pain, stress, and other disorders, sleeping can be difficult.
However, cannabis can have a sedating effect on your body. It relaxes your body and mind, allowing you to sleep more easily. Cannabis can numb your pain and eliminate stress while promoting the production of sleep-inducing hormones.
However, this effect is limited to certain strains. Most sativa strains are energizing and keep you active, whereas Indica strains lead to more soothing effects and make you lazy and sleepy. PotCargo is an excellent website to order weed from; therefore, visit the website, and order your preferred strains.
Cannabis helps counter stress
Stress is a natural response to difficult situations, but when it becomes a chronic condition, and you start to stay stressed all the time, it can be a serious problem.
Stress can lead to a lot of mental and physical disorders, and you can say that it reduces your life and decreases its quality as well. Everyone has to deal with stress these days, and so do seniors. They may be stressed about their health, their children, and several other issues.
Stress takes a serious toll on seniors; therefore, countering it is essential. Cannabis can be quite helpful against stress, as it leads to the release of dopamine in your body. Dopamine is a feel-good hormone that can counter the effects of stress. Furthermore, using weed also halts the production of cortisol, which is a stress hormone.
Therefore, cannabis is an excellent way for older people to deal with stress without taking any pharmaceutical meds.
Cannabis can help against the side-effects of medications
Whether it is because of one problem or another, almost every senior citizen has to regularly take some kind of medication. Some take pills to control their blood pressure or diabetes, some take them to counter pain, and others may use them to sleep better or counter stress and depression.
One thing that all pharmaceutical medications have in common is that they have side-effects, some of which can be quite serious. Therefore, most people are on the lookout for natural alternatives, and cannabis can help with some problems.
Now obviously, it can be an alternative to every medication, but it can help in decreasing their side effects to some extent. Furthermore, it can work as an effective alternative to painkillers, antidepressants, sleeping pills, and antianxiety pills.
Furthermore, some studies also suggest that cannabis can help in countering the side-effects of chemotherapy.
Weed doesn’t have any serious long term side effects either; therefore, it is quite useful for seniors.
Cannabis can improve your metabolism
Being overweight comes with a wide range of problems, and when it is combined with old age, the consequences are even more severe. More weight means that there is a heavier load on your bones, and problems like joint pain and back pain become more common.
Furthermore, an unhealthy weight can increase the risk of diabetes and other health problems as well.
Exercise is the most effective way to lose weight, and it helps you stay healthy. However, most seniors can exercise either. Therefore, cannabis can be quite useful for them, and it can boost their metabolism and help them lose weight.
Using cannabis in your youth also allows you to maintain a lower BMI, which is helpful when you grow older.
Cannabis can help in the preventions of mental deterioration disorders
With old age, it is common for people to get a little forgetful; however, for some people, it can mean the beginning of a mental deterioration disorder like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Living with these disorders can be very difficult; seniors can get confused and are always disoriented. Their memories are jumbled up, and they might even have trouble remembering their own family.
Now mental deterioration disorders are irreversible; however, cannabis can help in their prevention, or it can at least slow the process down. Studies have shown and that using certain strains of cannabis in low doses over an extended period of time on one’s youth can decrease the risk of mental deterioration in older age.