Perhaps you have already heard about cannabidiol (CBD) oil, and its benefits for the body and mind. But, can this organic extract be useful for workers in the healthcare industry? If so, what are the advantages of using CBD in healthcare?
What Is CBD?
Before knowing if CBD can benefit employees in the healthcare sector, you should understand what CBD is and how it works.
CBD comes from the Cannabis sativa plant, which is the same source as marijuana and industrial hemp. Marijuana and hemp have tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is an active substance that causes consumers to experience psychoactive or mind-altering effects called “highs”. In other words, THC is the substance responsible for that “stoned” feeling after consuming some marijuana or hemp products.
Conversely, pure CBD doesn’t contain THC. Hence, you can gain its benefits without worrying about getting “stoned”. But since CBD still comes from the Cannabis sativa plant, does that mean this naturally-occurring compound can show up in drug tests?
Can CBD Show Up In A Drug Test?
Even if medical laboratories conduct a particular CBD drug test on you, this compound shouldn’t show up on the examination results. But, there’s a catch; some CBD-infused products with trace amounts of THC may show up on drug exams.
So, healthcare workers should consider which CBD product to consume. Otherwise, consuming a specific CBD-infused item might jeopardize their job status. Remember, some health and medical establishments have a strict policy that their employees must not test positive when screened for drugs.
It’s best to consult your establishment’s management before consuming CBD products. You don’t want to get reprimanded when you test positive on a drug exam.
Is It Possible To Work And Use CBD In The Healthcare Industry?
Medical assistants, nurses, physicians, therapists, and certified doctors – these professions are a few of the many occupations in the healthcare sector. Workers in this industry can use CBD-infused products for their potential health advantages. Some of these benefits include:
- Relief From Anxiety And Mood Disorders
Professionals in the healthcare sector might become susceptible to anxiety and mood disorders. The stress of working in a high-pressure environment might result in undue strain on the mental stability of an individual.
Nurses might become agitated quickly, or medical assistants might suffer panic attacks during emergencies. These scenarios may prove to be detrimental and potentially life-threatening to patients.
The use of CBD can be useful for healthcare workers with anxiety, or mood-related issues. This naturally-occurring substance has anxiolytic properties. Furthermore, it may also contain antidepressant traits.
Using a technique known as micro dosing may be particularly useful in such a situation, in which smaller than usual amounts are taken over an extended period. This would prove beneficial for medical staff with long working hours. Thus, micro dosing CBD before or during work may help reduce the occurrence of panic attacks and sudden mood changes.
- Pain Reliever
Healthcare workers, especially professionals that need to be on their feet and walking all the time, may feel pain in their muscles and joints. These discomforts can inhibit the employee from performing well in his or her tasks.
CBD-infused products, such as tinctures and topicals, may help decrease the intensity of the pain. This natural substance may also help reduce the discomfort caused by headaches and migraines, thanks to its ability to calm neurological functions.
- Improve Heart Health
Some members of the healthcare sector may have heart-related illnesses. Heart problems can hinder the professional from carrying out their duties efficiently. Specific heart ailments might even become life-threatening for the medical employee.
For example, an obese doctor with high blood pressure might feel the effects of an oncoming heart attack in the middle of a patient consultation. In this event, the doctor can become the patient.
One study from the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology states that some evidence exists wherein CBD can protect the heart against cardiovascular damage caused by inflammation, high amounts of glucose, or diabetes.
- Protects Cognitive Function
Workers in the healthcare industry need to have proper cognitive health to provide excellent services to clients. Risks of neurodegeneration can impair the work of health and medical professionals and their patients.
For example, a surgeon experiencing memory loss might forget about a scheduled surgery. Conversely, a nurse might deliver an incorrect dose for a particular medicine.
These scenarios can be potentially life-threatening for patients. Thus, it’s critical for workers in the healthcare sector to ensure their brain’s memory functions are in excellent working condition.
A study suggests that CBD may help protect the brain from neurodegeneration. Researchers found that this naturally-occurring compound can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain. Also, CBD can help normalize glutamate homeostasis. In other words, this organic compound can restore the balance of glutamate, which is a chemical that sends signals to other cells.
Thus, CBD may help protect against neurodegenerative disorders, such as:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
Furthermore, CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties may help reduce the symptoms of existing cognitive disorders. Although, more research might be necessary to fully understand the extent of this substance’s neuroprotective characteristics.
Remember, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate CBD products at the time of writing. However, one exception exists as the government agency accepts the use of a drug called Epidolex to help treat rare types of epilepsy.
Employers in the healthcare industry should educate their workforce about the possession and use of CBD in the establishment. Health and medical employees should follow the rules and regulations imposed by the government regarding the consumption of CBD-infused products to avoid getting in trouble with the law.
Conclusion
Workers in the healthcare industry may use CBD for many reasons. CBD can be consumed for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, sudden mood changes, chronic pain, and other particular physiological and psychological issues. But, make sure to consult the management of your health and medical establishment first before attempting to consume any CBD products. Take this step first to avoid jeopardizing your job as part of the health and medical labor force.
Throughout the year, our writers feature fresh, in-depth, and relevant information for our audience of 40,000+ healthcare leaders and professionals. As a healthcare business publication, we cover and cherish our relationship with the entire health care industry including administrators, nurses, physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, and more. We cover a broad spectrum from hospitals to medical offices to outpatient services to eye surgery centers to university settings. We focus on rehabilitation, nursing homes, home care, hospice as well as men’s health, women’s heath, and pediatrics.
