Marijuana CBD and Blood Pressure – A recent study discovered that just a single dose of Cannabidiol can effectively lower systolic blood pressure, which suggests it could be used to treat a medley of other cardiovascular disorders.
Marijuana CBD and Blood Pressure – New research published in JCI Insight found that CBD has the potential to reduce systolic pressure, which is the pressure in a person’s blood vessels while the heart beats. Their discovery is substantial because it means that CBD can be used as an all-natural, non-psychoactive, and non-addictive medication option to treat many cardiovascular disorders. CBD an extremely beneficial cannabis compound derived from the seeds and stalks of hemp plants.
The Study
In the study, scientists at the University of Nottingham in England compared the effects of a placebo versus a single 600 mg dose of CBD, administered orally, on the cardiovascular systems of nine healthy adult males. The researchers monitored a variety of the men’s cardiovascular parameters including blood pressure, heart rate, stroke volume, and skin blood blow, while they were at rest. Could Marijuana CBD and Blood Pressure be connected?
“CBD reduced resting systolic BP (–6 mmHg; P < 0.05) and stroke volume (–8 ml; P < 0.05), with increased heart rate (HR) and maintained cardiac output. Subjects who had taken CBD had lower BP (–5 mmHg; P < 0.05, especially before and after stress), increased HR (+10 bpm; P < 0.01), decreased stroke volume (–13 ml; P < 0.01), and a blunted forearm skin blood flow response to isometric exercise. In response to cold stress, subjects who had taken CBD had blunted BP (–6 mmHg; P < 0.01) and increased HR (+7 bpm; P < 0.05), with lower total peripheral resistance,” the study stated.
The above factors were also monitored while each participant was subjected to a slew of stress tests. The CBD effectively reduced systolic blood pressure by an average of “6 mmHg during rest, 5 mmHg before and after stress, and 6 mmHg in response to cold stress.” In a healthy adult, systolic blood pressure of 140mm HG or higher is considered too high, ideally, it should be around 120mmHg or less.
According to the study, “Our data shows that a single dose of CBD reduces resting blood pressure and the blood pressure response to stress, particularly cold stress, and especially in the post-test periods. This may reflect the anxiolytic and analgesic effects of CBD, as well as any potential direct cardiovascular effects,”
The Results
Also noted in the study is that CBD reduced stroke volume and increased heart rate by 7 beats per minute on average, however, there was no noticeable decline in cardiac output. These results aren’t surprising though, considering that cannabis has been studied for its cardiovascular benefits for years. In 2013, it was discovered that CBD can be used as a vasodilator. The study suggests that it can “allow for greater blood flow to normalize blood pressure and reduce the damage to arterial walls.”
Cannabidiol is also believed to be a neuroprotectant that aids in preventing cardiovascular disease and stroke. It has also been used to restore regular heart rhythm, reduce infarct size and inflammation, and preserve the remaining ventricle after a heart attack.
What Does This Mean?
Nearly 75 million adults in the United States suffer from hypertension, or high blood pressure. That means around 32 percent of the population is at an increased risk for heart disease and stroke. It’s very promising that CBD has the possibility of reducing and preventing certain cardiovascular disorders. “Further research is also required to establish whether CBD has any role in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension,” the study concluded.
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