It’s not uncommon to experience tireless or unsatisfactory sleep every once in a while. But for patients with sleep apnea, the impact of this sleeping disorder can have a more severe effect on their everyday lives.
Sleep apnea impacts nearly 18 million patients in the U.S. alone, making it one of the top sleep-related disorders in the nation. Since the effects of this condition can significantly impair one’s ability to perform routine daily tasks with ease, it’s vital to discover an effective treatment plan that works.
This article will examine why CBD may be the ideal solution for a patient experiencing sleep apnea while outlining the best forms of this product for treating this disorder. Read on to learn more about sleep apnea and a CBD treatment plan below.
Before we delve into the treatment plans for this condition, you may be asking yourself, “What is sleep apnea, and do I have this condition?”
Sleep apnea is a disorder that primarily impacts a patient’s breathing during the night. While sleeping, an individual’s upper airways become blocked, significantly reducing their airflow. For some patients, airflow stops completely. What does this mean? Essentially, sleep apnea causes an individual to experience a disrupted breathing cycle during sleep.
Some individuals aren’t even aware they have sleep apnea until they experience the impact of their unhealthy sleep quality. Rather than waking up the next morning feeling refreshed and energetic, a sleep apnea patient can feel groggy and lethargic during the day. In some cases, patients struggle to remain awake and may put themselves at risk for falling asleep while driving, working or engaging in other activities vital to their everyday routine.
While asleep, an individual sleeping with a patient with sleep apnea may note the following symptoms:
If you have a partner with sleep apnea, you may begin to feel the impact of low-quality sleep due to their nightly interruptions, too.
Sleep apnea isn’t just an inconvenient issue that provokes a patient to be noisy while asleep. Since this condition can significantly impair an individual’s sense of wellbeing, it’s crucial to develop a treatment plan as soon as you take note of this issue.
The endocannabinoid system plays a vital role in the regulation of a healthy and normal sleep cycle. But before you can fully comprehend the importance of the endocannabinoid system for sleep apnea, you may be asking yourself, “What is the endocannabinoid system, and why does it matter for my condition?”
The endocannabinoid system is a vital part of the body responsible for ensuring a patient reaches a state of homeostasis. This crucial system possesses receptors that engage in intercellular communication to ensure the body can adequately perform its normal daily functioning, including sleep.
Your ability to fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up are all acts that the endocannabinoid system regulates. Since sleep plays a vital role in other aspects of your everyday health — such as your immunity, blood pressure and cognitive abilities — other elements of the endocannabinoid system are altered when a patient experiences sleep apnea or an impaired sleep cycle, too.
You know how sleep apnea impacts your body and the endocannabinoid system, but what can you do to lessen the impact of this sleep disorder?
If you’ve noticed the word “endocannabinoid” sounds similar to cannabis, there’s a reason. While scientists were examining the powerful and positive impact of marijuana on the body, they found it fitting to name this vital system after cannabis.
Since CBD is a non-psychoactive compound of cannabis, it’s ideally suited for those experiencing conditions like sleep apnea. When administered in reasonable doses, CBD can increase a patient’s sense of alertness and awareness, making it easier for them to feel energetic during the day.
When taken at night, the right dosage can also help promote sleep, making it a medication that benefits sleep apnea patients twofold. Since CBD interacts with receptors related to the sleep cycle, a patient using CBD-infused products may have an easier time managing their symptoms.
If you’re interested in trying CBD to control your sleep apnea, your next step is to purchase your products — but where do you begin? Which form of CBD is best suited for someone with your condition? Is one method of intake better than the other, or is it merely a matter of preference?
Since those with sleep apnea often want to experience immediate internal relief, you may want to skip lotions and other topicals that work better for targeted treatment. Many patients with sleep apnea prefer to vape or smoke their CBD because the effect is quicker.
Once you decide your intake method, your next course of action is choosing the ideal strain to combat your symptoms. Options such as Strawberry Cough, Super Sour Diesel, Girl Scout Cookies, Green Crack and Blue Dream are all options known for their ability to reduce sleep apnea symptoms.
If this is your first time using CBD to treat sleep apnea, be sure to discuss your treatment options with a certified medical marijuana specialist before crafting your medication plan. Not sure who to turn to for help? Use our online directory to connect with the professionals who can help you get on the right path today.
Learn more about Sleep Apnea and what makes medical marijuana an effective treatment for Sleep Apnea’s symptoms.
