All of us are aware that keeping a healthy body is important. Not only does this help us fulfil our roles in life, but it also contributes to living happily. Unfortunately, due to many factors, such as health problems, including ageing, some encounter conditions that require long-term care.
We live in a world where we have medical treatments that are undoubtedly effective in sustaining our health and helping us manage the symptoms that come with diseases we encounter. And while most of them work, the medical advancements also include alternative and adjunctive treatments that can be used in continuous care.
In 2018, medical cannabis in the UK was approved and became a legal prescription medication. After long years of scientific studies and clinical trials, the UK medical cannabis law gave way to other treatment options that patients can opt for. It allowed them to obtain prescriptions and access a treatment that can help with various medical conditions, including those in need of long-term care.
Here are two symptoms commonly associated with complex illnesses that can be managed using medical cannabis.
Chronic Pain
There are many kinds of pain, but the hardest to deal with is the recurring, consistent, and hard-to-get-rid kind. Unlike acute pains, chronic pain patients suffer from discomfort even when the injury or illness has been addressed and treated.
Most long-term care patients have experienced dealing with chronic pain using strong pain relievers. They can be those who suffered from an injury, got involved in an accident, or have progressive medical problems. Unfortunately, the most powerful pain medication available, opioids, often prescribed to treat this symptom, come with side effects. This includes sleepiness, nausea, and constipation, including the development of drug dependence.
Medical marijuana is the opposite, as it has a lower risk of dependence when used chronically. This is why UK medical marajuana clinics have specialist doctors that help patients monitor and adjust their treatment regularly to avoid severe side effects.
According to studies, medical marijuana has therapeutic benefits that help people with chronic pain. The cannabinoid compounds in the plant, especially the tetrahydrocannabinol delta-9 (THC), are active compounds that help reduce the intensity of pain, like neuropathic pain.
Sleep Problems
Long-term care patients often experience sleep problems due to many reasons. Aside from dealing with other symptoms, including pain and mental health conditions like depression, which can keep them up all night, reduced physical activities also contribute. This causes them to be sleepy during the day and causes interrupted sleep at night.
While lifestyle modifications can improve sleep, most complex care patients cannot perform them due to their physical ability or medical restrictions. While this is the case, sleeping pills aren’t also recommended for long-term use due to their serious side effects.
Managing sleep problems using medical cannabis is suggested to improve the quality of sleep of most users. The cannabinoids found in marijuana, specifically THC, can help induce sleep. It is suggested to reduce Rapid Eye Movement (REM), which means patients have more time in their deep sleep state or the restful stage of the sleep cycle.
Take Away
Dealing with long-term conditions can be difficult and may require some treatments. While not everyone experiences the same chronic conditions, pharmacological preparations are always available to help. However, not all of them are harmless and have no side effects. In cases like this, it is helpful that we have alternative options to help us manage them, like medical cannabis. Remember to only consult specialists when using this treatment.