Sleep problems are one of the more common disorders affecting modern man. More than half of Poles suffer from periodic sleep disorders. Few people realize that chronic sleep deprivation in the long term can carry serious health risks. Those who want to improve the quality of their sleep often turn to highly addictive sleep medications. See why you should opt for a natural sleep aid like marijuana.
What are sleep disorders?
Sleep disorders mean difficulty falling asleep, waking up repeatedly during the night and waking up too early without being able to fall asleep again. In each case, sleep is inefficient and does not bring the recovery needed for the body to function properly and stay healthy.
Causes of sleep disorders
There can be many reasons for sleep disorders. Nowadays, the most common cause of sleep problems is a stressful lifestyle: excess responsibilities, hectic daily life, overload of stimuli. Difficulties can also be caused by blue light emitted by electronic devices: smartphones, laptops, tablets. This type of light inhibits the secretion of melatonin, a hormone that regulates the diurnal rhythm. A third cause is an unhealthy lifestyle: inactivity during the day, overeating before bedtime, alcohol abuse or increased intellectual effort before bedtime.
Why is a good night’s sleep important?
Providing the body with an adequate amount of sleep is not just a matter of comfort and rest. Repeated sleep problems can result in serious health consequences, such as chronic insomnia. Chronic insomnia alters brain function and leads to poorer daytime functioning – problems with concentration, decision-making, as well as greater irritability and impulsivity.
In addition, chronic sleep disorders increase the risk of many diseases: cardiovascular, diabetes and obesity, as well as depression. For this reason, according to doctors, taking care of the quality of your sleep should be one of the three pillars of taking care of your health, along with a healthy diet and physical activity.
How does medical marijuana help you get a good night’s sleep?
Medical marijuana improves sleep quality on several levels. First of all, it makes it easier to fall asleep on its own. The CBD cannabinoid contained in marijuana calms the mind, relieves stress and anxiety. Medical marijuana therapy will especially work well for those suffering from a flurry of thoughts before bedtime and those who are unable to relax.
The second effect of medical marijuana is to regulate the sleep cycle. Cannabinoids lengthen the deep sleep phase, which regenerates the body (NREM), and shorten the shallow (REM) phase. Cannabidiol also stimulates the body to produce melatonin. In addition, THC has an effect on regulating the diurnal rhythm, which is often disrupted, for example, by shift work.
Why is medical marijuana the best drug for insomnia?
The advantage of medical marijuana over other preparations recommended for sleepless nights is its natural origin. Often patients suffering from sleep problems are recommended supplements containing melatonin. However, it should be remembered that supplying melatonin externally over a long period of time causes the body to lose its ability to produce it on its own. Consequently, already after treatment with melatonin supplements, sleep problems may occur. A similar situation occurs with the use of sleeping aids. The compounds found in them, such as benzodiazepines and barbiturates, have addictive properties.
These disadvantages are devoid of medical marijuana, the use of which in sleep therapy has no side effects. It is the safest and most natural sleeping aid, which does not interfere with the body’s hormonal balance. Medical marijuana is effective in providing relief from both temporary sleep problems and chronic insomnia.
