Much of the advertising around CBD oil today seems to be pointed towards the younger generations. You’ll see social media posts, trendy posters and billboards, and even SMS messages about CBD’s biggest benefits.
However, CBD is not just a young man’s (or woman’s) game. In fact, as described by Internet Vibes, there are many benefits of CBD for seniors—maybe even more for this age group than the younger generation
If you’re smart, though, you’ll thoroughly do your research before using CBD and its benefits in your own life. Here’s what you need to know about CBD oil for seniors.
Treat Arthritis
Seniors are now using various flavored CBD oils to treat their arthritis, and with good reason. The anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects of CBD seem to be helping many patients improve their mobility and lifestyle.
It’s believed that CBD helps to treat these symptoms by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system. This system handles things like hormone production, immune responses, and other essential functions and processes in the body.
Inflammation and pain are two very common immune responses. CBD works by increasing the number of cannabinoids in your endocannabinoid system, helping to balance it out. When you’re feeling excessive pain and inflammation, this balance can inhibit signals of pain and inflammation, bringing you much-needed relief.
There have been several surveys and studies of senior patients who have used CBD to treat their arthritis. They might ingest it or use it topically at the site of the pain to find relief.
Improve Sleep
One’s ability to sleep restfully is a key indicator of one’s age. As you get older, it’s harder to fall asleep and stay that way throughout the night. Research on this topic shows that almost half of adults 65 and older report difficulty in falling asleep and sleeping well.
CBD might be able to help. Those who use CBD regularly report improvement in sleep problems. They say it helps them fall asleep faster and it could help to regulate sleep cycles so that patients are more likely to sleep throughout the night.
This effect on sleep might have something to do with boosting melatonin production as well as the symptom relief provided by CBD.
Help with Menopause Symptoms
While most seniors are done with menopause symptoms long before they reach the age of 60, some have lingering symptoms for years. The average age for menopause to hit is 51, but some women don’t experience it until their mid 50’s.
If you’re a senior still experiencing hot flashes, vaginal discomfort, chills, night sweats, mood changes, weight gain, sleep problems, or other symptoms, CBD might be able to help. A recent study discussed by Healthline.com shows evidence that CBD oil products might be helpful in treating symptoms associated with menopause.
The study specifically names products like CBD-infused tinctures, personal lubricants, vaginal suppositories, and bath salts. This could help to ease some of the physical discomforts associated with menopause.
CBD oil products might also help with hormonal surges. Most symptoms like hot flashes, chills, night sweats, and mood changes are owed to imbalanced hormones. It’s a natural process for women to go through, and you wouldn’t want the hormonal surges to go away completely, as they’re responsible for that essential shift in your life. However, CBD might be able to help take the edge off!
Manage Pain and Inflammation
CBD can also help senior patients manage their pain and inflammation not affiliated with arthritis. As you age, it gets harder and harder to pinpoint exactly where your pain has started. It might be your back, your feet, your head, your hands, or even your elbows.
In any case, if you’re dealing with pain and inflammation from an injury or from overuse, CBD can help with that too. It can shrink inflammation and relieve some of the pain that’s attached. It’s a much better alternative to over the counter and prescription pain medications that can be addictive and have long-term health effects.
Combat Addiction
An unfortunate truth of our senior population is the number of patients addicted to their prescription medications, whether it’s pain medication or something else. Today’s Geriatric Medicine believes that about 8 million seniors suffer from substance abuse, but it’s likely that more are dealing with it because it’s not always easy to pinpoint where certain symptoms are coming from.
The best CBD oil has been used in addiction recovery settings to help patients overcome cravings and withdrawals. It’s believed that CBD can not only act as a harmless replacement for a person’s substance of choice but also help to relieve symptoms of addiction recovery.
For example, it can relieve anxiety associated with addiction. It might also help individuals sleep and therefore have a better fighting chance at conquering their addiction. It’s somewhat of a secret weapon in the addiction recovery community for both seniors and younger adults.
Protect the Heart
Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States, and seniors often experience the worst symptoms. CBD may be able to help.
CBD works best for helping the heart when it’s taking regularly by young patients. It might help to promote blood vessel and artery flow and protection so that blockages don’t occur.
In treating heart disease, CBD oil will likely lower a patient’s heart rate and blood pressure to more manageable levels. This is especially important for patients who experience high levels of stress, such as seniors with family problems or those still in the workforce.
Prevent Neurodegenerative Disorders
Alzheimer’s disease is a growing problem among seniors, especially our current generation of seniors because the population is so much larger than we’ve seen in the past. It’s a prevalent healthcare problem with a senior dying from Alzheimer’s every 65 seconds.
Preliminary research indicates that CBD might have neuroprotective properties. Along with protecting patients with epilepsy from having seizures, it could also protect our elderly from dementia, which could eventually lead to Alzheimer’s. If this proves to be true, a CBD-based drug for seniors could significantly cut down dementia and Alzheimer’s-related deaths.
As you age, it’s important to consider all the factors that might be impacting your daily life and look for ways to manage those problems. CBD might be a very useful tool to keep around now and in the future.
