Can Medical Marijuana Help For Stroke Recovery?
Table of Contents
- What Is A Stroke And What Causes It?
- Symptoms And Complications
- Can Medical Marijuana Help Stroke Victims
- Can Medical Marijuana Cause A Stroke
- Consult A Doctor
Every 40 seconds, someone in the US suffers a stroke, and every 3.5 minutes someone dies from one. It is also the leading cause of long-term disability in the US. Today, we will answer the question: does medical marijuana help with a stroke?
What Is A Stroke And What Causes It?
A stroke happens when a blockage occurs in your brain, and either a vessel bursts or an area fails to receive blood. This causes parts of the brain to incur damage or die. Strokes are considered a major health event, require immediate emergency care, and often result in lasting brain damage, death, or long-term disability.
The F.A.S.T. acronym is used to spot early symptoms of a suspected stroke:
- F – Face drooping
- A – Arms drifting downward when raised
- S – Slurred speech
- T – Time. As in if you see any of these signs act fast and call 911.
Symptoms And Complications
Other symptoms of a stroke are sudden numbness, confusion, vision difficulties, sudden headaches, and difficulty walking.
The aftermath of a stroke often involves many complications and negatively affects various functions including:
- Ability to care for self
- Bladder control
- Eating and swallowing
- Cognitive functions
- Emotional control
- Movement
- Speech and language
- Sexual function
- Vision
Stokes often have underlying causes related to an unhealthy lifestyle, such as:
- High blood pressure
- Irregular heartbeat
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
Twenty-five percent of stroke survivors have another stroke within five years. Recovering from a stroke usually involves speech, physical, and occupational therapy.
Can Medical Marijuana Help Stroke Victims
With medical marijuana having a variety of benefits, it’s relevant to ask: can medical marijuana help stroke patients?
If you suffered a stroke and are thinking of using medical marijuana for stroke symptoms, it is possible cannabis can help the following ones:
- Frustration
- Sadness
- Anxiety
- Fear
- Depression
- Feelings of hopelessness
One of the reasons medical marijuana can positively affect stroke victims is because the chronic stress experienced after having a stroke can suppress endocannabinoid production in your brain. The use of medical marijuana can help the production return to normal which can then help depression-like symptoms.
A 2014 study also saw cannabis acting as an effective pain management tool, with study participants reporting a reduction in pain of sixty-four percent. This could prove useful to the 10% of stroke patients that develop a severe pain known as post-stroke pain.
Unexplained headaches are also a symptom experienced by stroke victims which could possibly be relieved by medical marijuana.
As far as stroke prevention, there is actually a chance that the THC contained in medical marijuana can protect the brain from damage caused by a stroke, according to a 1998 study.
Can Medical Marijuana Cause A Stroke
A 2016 study found no association between using cannabis and increased risk of stroke.
Consult A Doctor
If you or someone you know is recovering from a stroke and are wondering if medical marijuana can help, book an appointment with one of our medical professionals to find out if medical marijuana is right for you.
