That’s basically what it’s like for people with sleep apnea. It’s estimated that 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. The vast majority of cases are what’s known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea and CPAP machines are the standard treatment. Even with a variety of different designs, they’re all basically a mask you wear on your face connected to a machine by a bulky plastic tube. Nighty night. Sleep tight.

Studies suggest that from one-third to more than 50% of people quit using their CPAP machines because they find the device too uncomfortable to sleep with. They simply stop treating themselves. And when left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, chronic heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, and cardiovascular problems. It’s also associated with type 2 diabetes and depression.

But recently there’s been some promising results around cannabis as a potential sleep apnea treatment—including a clinical trial on dronabinol which is a synthetic THC that has been used for years to prevent nausea in chemotherapy patients. The therapy was a new approach to the treatment of sleep apnea because it targeted the brain instead of the physical problem of collapsing airways.

The researchers think that THC works by binding to cannabinoid receptors on the nerves that regulate the upper airway muscles. This inhibits activation of the vagus nerve, which increases muscle activity to stop airway collapse during sleep, says the principal investigator of the study, David Carley, Ph.D., professor of biobehavioral health sciences, medicine and bioengineering at The University of Illinois in Chicago.

So, while more research needs to be done, we looked into which strains would potentially be best suited for treating sleep apnea. We think a 1:1 strain could be the perfect answer. 1:1 strains have an equal ratio of THC to CBD. So, while the THC is still present and some psychoactive effects will be felt, the equal amounts of CBD slow it down and moderate the high. We’re already having great results using 1:1s to treat and manage symptoms for patients with insomnia, fibromyalgia, pain and some skin conditions. They’re ideal for medical usage.

If you’re interested in finding out more about 1:1 strains and the ones we currently have in stock, come in and see us at Joyology. We are here to be a part of your overall health, well-being and happiness. And to help you understand how you can use the science of happiness to enjoy life more every day.