Cannabis & Sleep - National Sleep Awareness Week
It’s National Sleep Awareness Week!
We spend one-third of our lives asleep! The quality of our sleep affects our health, mood, emotions, and work performance but up to 30% of adults experience insomnia. Let’s take a moment to discuss healthy practices to improve your sleep, interesting sleep facts, and the impact of medicinal cannabis on sleep.
Why is sleep important?
Sleep is essential for our physical and mental health. When we sleep, our bodies repair and rejuvenate, and our brains consolidate memories and process emotions. Good quality sleep is linked to improved mental health, better cognitive function, and a stronger immune system. On the other hand, lack of sleep can lead to a range of health problems including anxiety, depression, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.
Healthy practices to improve your sleep
If you are struggling with sleep, there are several healthy practices you can try to improve your sleep quality:
1. Stick to a sleep schedule: Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends.
2. Create a sleep-friendly environment: Keep you r bedroom cool, dark, and quiety. Consider investing in comfortable bedding and a supportive mattress.
3. Limit screen time: Avoid using electronic devices for at least one hour before bedtime. The blue light emitted by screens may interfere with your sleep.
4. Establish a relaxing bedtime routine: Take a warm bath, read a book, or practice relaxation techniques like meditation or deep breathing.
5. Exercise regularly: Regular exercise can help improve sleep quality, but avoid exercising too close to bedtime as it may leave you feeling too energized to sleep
10 Interesting facts you didn’t know about sleep!
1. We spend a third of our lives sleeping: It may sound surprising, but on average, humans spend about a third of their lives sleeping. This means that by the time you reach 75 years old, you will have spent 25 years asleep!
2. Dreams can be in Color or Black and White: Contrary to popular belief, not all dreams are in color. In fact, some people only dream in black and white, while others dream in full technicolor.
3. Dreams Can Help with Problem Solving: Dreams can help your brain process emotions and solve problems, even if you’re not aware of it.
4. Your Brain Cleans Itself During Sleep: The glymphatic system in your brain removes waste products while you sleep, which is crucial for brain health.
5. You’re Most Likely to Remember Your Dreams If You Wake Up During Them: If you wake up during a dream, you’re more likely to remember it. That’s why keeping a dream journal can help you better understand your dreams.
6. Your Brain Is More Active During REM Sleep: Your brain is actually more active during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, which is when you experience vivid dreams.
7. Sleep Helps With Emotional Regulation: Getting enough sleep can help you better regulate your emotions and reduce the risk of anxiety and depression.
8. Sleep Deprivation Is Dangerous: Did you know that just one night of sleep deprivation can affect your ability to make decisions and can lead to accidents and errors? Chronic sleep deprivation can also contribute to heart disease, obesity, other health problems, and even cause hallucinations!
9. Insomnia affects up to 30% of adults: Insomnia is a sleep disorder that makes it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. It’s estimated that up to 30% of adults suffer from some form of insomnia.
10. Cannabis may be able to help you sleep!
Does cannabis help me sleep?
Research has shown that medicinal cannabis can have a positive impact on sleep, particularly for individuals with sleep disorders such as insomnia and for people with certain conditions such as chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and multiple sclerosis. Cannabis contains compounds called cannabinoids, which interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system to regulate sleep and other bodily functions. Stop by one of our dispensary locations on O‘ahu (Honolulu, Aiea, or Kaneohe) to discuss how Noa’s products may be a good fit for you.
References:
- Kuhathasan, N., Dufort, A., MacKillop, J., Gottschalk, R., Minuzzi, L., & Frey, B. N. (2019). The use of cannabinoids for sleep: A critical review on clinical trials. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 27(4), 383–401.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31120284/ - Vigil, J. M., Stith, S. S., Diviant, J. P., Brockelman, F., Keeling, K., & Hall, B. (2018). Effectiveness of raw, natural medical Cannabis flower for treating insomnia under naturalistic conditions. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland), 5(3), 75.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29997343/
