A diagnosis of a chronic disease or other long term health issue is one of the hardest things to hear, and it may be just as difficult to hear that a loved one has been diagnosed. You may just be learning about the diagnosis and gathering information about ways to make life with a long term health issue easier, or you may be looking for ways to replace or supplement the treatment you or someone you love is receiving.
Whatever stage you are in at this point, this article will help you understand ways that CBD may be able to help. There are so many types of long term illnesses that it is impossible to answer all your questions in one place. Hopefully by the end, however, your thoughts will be organized and you will know which questions to ask next.
The Endocannabinoid System
To understand why the best CBD gummies and oils are being used to help with a variety of long term illnesses, you need to understand the endocannabinoid system. This is a network of neurotransmitters and neuroreceptors belonging to the nervous system. Because they are integrated throughout your body, they touch every other system.
This network is responsible for communicating with your other systems about how to maintain balance and homeostasis, even when there are internal or external changes. Some researchers now believe that a poorly functioning endocannabinoid system may be at the root of many acute and chronic illnesses.
CBD is one of dozens of cannabinoids that activate receptors within the endocannabinoid system when taken internally. While scientists do not fully understand exactly how CBD works, it is believed that CBD activates the endocannabinoid system and supports healthier functioning. This may be why CBD seems to be so good for such a multitude of problems.
CBD May Help Improve Sleep
Chronic illnesses are often accompanied with sleeping problems. Some people find they sleep more than they want. Others find that they don’t sleep enough. There are several contributing factors involved in difficulties with sleep if you have a long term illness and some may include:
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Injury
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Inflammation
- Medications
There are a few ways CBD may be able to help with sleep issues related to long term illness. CBD balances the sleep/wake cycle by helping balance hormones produced by the endocrine system. These hormones may be thrown off because of the illness, the medication, or a number of other reasons. CBD gummies before bed may help bring the hormones to an equilibrium, creating a sense of relaxation and calm. CBD is also known to help the brain retain serotonin, which helps some people get a better night’s sleep and relieves depression and anxiety.
We all sleep better when we are more comfortable, and this is especially important for someone who is ill. The antiinflammatory and analgesic properties in CBD can help to relieve the pain and stiffness that comes with some chronic illnesses. CBD gummies may calm the immune system, bringing down inflammation and aiding sleep.
CBD May Reduce Pain and Inflammation
The inescapable pain and inflammation that may come with a chronic illness can be the most frustrating and exhausting part of the illness. It may prevent someone from participating in the activities they once enjoyed, or it may keep them from even leaving their house. Pain medications are sometimes ineffective, or they cause too many side effects to be worth it.
While most doctors prescribe a cocktail of NSAIDs and opioids for chronic pain, long term use of NSAIDs can cause heart disease or stroke. Opioids are addictive and can lead to overdose.
Studies have shown that CBD oil can help reduce pain and generalized inflammation without causing all the side effects and long term harm that come with traditional treatments.
CBD May Reduce Anxiety
Anxiety is often a natural accompaniment to long term illness. The illness itself, the emotional wear of the illness, or both may cause the anxiety. Regardless, the anxiety only compounds the problems associated with illness, and makes it more challenging to find relief. Studies have shown that pain is greater and people generally feel worse when they are anxious.
CBD products do not take anxiety away completely, but they can help take the edge off. Most people who take CBD gummies for anxiety find that over time, they find themselves doing a better job of using their coping skills. This will lead to clearer thinking and more deep breaths, which may contribute to an improvement in pain management as well.
Final Thoughts
While scientists are still looking at the potential for CBD to be a treatment for some illnesses, the real power may be in its ability to aid three symptoms that are all connected. When one of these symptoms improves, all the others improve as well. The effects can be a powerful benefit to anyone who has struggled to find comfort elsewhere.
* None of the information in this article is intended to be medical advice. If you think CBD may be a logical choice, your next step will be to make a list of questions and talk to a doctor.
