How Cannabis is Making Baby Boomers Feel Young but How Does it Help Their Aging Bodies?

How Cannabis Treatment Helps Older People

elderly baby boomers cannabis use

Getting older is something that everyone has to embrace. Before you know it, you suddenly realize that stuff that was easy to do just a few years ago is all of a sudden harder to execute. In your early 60’s, things are still somewhat easy to do. But if you don´t take care of your health, much sooner than expected, a certain frailty steps in. This leads to more difficulties and illnesses that you rather would like to sidestep.

But what is this frailty we find under the elderly? When a person comes to the age where it is difficult to find a balance between ability and demand, a person is seen as frail. They become vulnerable and certain disabilities are more obvious and present. Because of this, the elderly are more prone to malnutrition that makes them more exposed to illnesses. They also stay rather at home and indoors for longer periods. They fall easier and are more at risk all the time.

A common factor found under older people indicating their frailty is the use of prescription drugs. Most of them are for sleeping problems and pain. When numerous prescription medications are taken, they are more likely to become frail. If any of these prescription medications can be replaced by more natural substances, health and mobility can significantly improve.

Medical Cannabis and the Elderly

Medical cannabis is well tolerant under older people. It brings relief in chronic pain that is very prominent in older patients. It also benefits sleep, neuropathy, and anxiety or stress. But most probably one of the best benefits is the reduction of opioid pain medications. It is very important to practice the correct dosage to avoid side-effects like gastrointestinal disturbances, balance problems, and sleepiness. But once that is sorted out, the overall benefit overshadows everything.

It is not surprising that cannabis usage is increasing rapidly under people 65 years and older. It is specifically popular under older people suffering from chronic diseases and disorders. But it can´t be stressed enough that medical cannabis should be administrated with care when it comes to the correct dosages. But with a cannabis boost, older people could work longer and be more active for an extended time. At this stage, people 60 and older are most like the least informed about marijuana and the medicinal benefits it renders. Ironically, they are the ones that could benefit most.

A Study of Older People

In a study where more than 7000 older people between 65 and 104 were studied for more than 8 years, researchers specifically focused on prescription drug use and frailty linked to it. Startling results were discovered. Those who used prescription medication for sleep and pain were 95 percent more prone to frailty than those who did not use prescription drugs. It is specifically alarming where people used multiple drugs to deal with their problems. It becomes imminently important to help older people as they also tend to become emotionally and mentally frail which leads to a very lonely existence.

When a person becomes frail, common features are at play. Most of the time they are dependent on someone. They tend to have prolonged bedrest that creates pressure ulcers. They are mostly suffering from anorexia and they are afraid of falling. Often, they also suffer from dementia, bone fractures, and confusion. But it is possible to change that with medical cannabis and to bring better life quality to the elderly.

How Can Medical Cannabis Help Older People?

There is no need to keep older people in the dark. Medical cannabis can only be a benefit to improve life quality. Here are some factors to keep in mind.

Marijuana is safer than prescribed meds- Many seniors have to take handfuls of prescribed medication throughout the day. Most of these drugs have severe side-effects in comparison to cannabis. The side-effects of cannabis are less harsh, and on the flip side, it also has antioxidant properties. It also helps with inflammation which many older people have a real problem with.

Cannabis is not Physically Addictive – Other than certain opioids, cannabis is not physically addictive. At any moment, cannabis can be stopped. When cannabis is used daily for anxiety and chronic pain, it brings great relief.

Cannabis can Reduce and even Replace Prescription Medications – Often people complain about the side-effects of their medication. One has side-effects, and another is used to treat the side-effects. Many conditions like high blood pressure, inflammation, digestive disorders, headaches, insomnia, cognitive awareness, and constipation are treatable by cannabis. When cannabis is used, the potency of the prescribed meds is often increased. This helps to reduce the amounts of opioids needed.

There are Many Ways to Use Cannabis – Other than smoking cannabis, it can also be used in infusions, extractions, and edibles. It can also be used in topical creams to relief muscular pain and arthritis.

Appetite Increases with Cannabis – loss of appetite is a huge factor under the elderly. Marijuana helps to stimulate the appetite.

Final Conclusion

The golden rule of “start slow and go slow” is totally applicable when it comes to treating older people with cannabis. When the correct balance is found of how much to use and how to do it, quality of life can greatly be improved, and the risk of frailty be reduced.