Nearly half of all adults in the United States struggle with high blood pressure, could CBD be a natural remedy to lower and maintain it?
High blood pressure – also known as hypertension – is a condition categorized by a higher than normal force of blood being pushed against artery walls. Blood pressure is split into to categories, systolic (the top number), which refers to the pressure when the heart actually beats; and diastolic (the bottom number) which is the pressure when your heart rests between beats. Normal levels are below 120/80 mmHg.
There are often no symptoms associated with hypertension, which makes it all the more dangerous. If left untreated, high blood pressure can eventually lead to heart attack and stroke. There are some basic steps you can take to lower your blood pressure such as eating healthy, exercising regularly, and cutting out tobacco and alcohol.
For anyone who needs something extra, medications are often prescribed, and this is where CBD might be able to intervene. CBD (cannabidiol) is the second most dominant cannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp plants. It has a myriad of medicinal benefits without any of psychoactive effects.
In the most recently published study on this topic, 9 healthy male volunteers were given either 600 mg of CBD or placebo in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. They monitored the subjects using a finometer and laser doppler.
The results showed that just that one dose of CBD reduced the resting heart rate significantly. Across the board, the men’s blood pressure was rates were close to 120/60 in the CBD group. And this isn’t the first time this concept has been explored.
A study published in 2012 determined that cannabinoids had vascular effects, heart protective properties, and haemodynamic effects. Specifically, this study found that CBD lowered arterial blood pressure by an average of 16 mmHg without affecting heart rate, it’s a vasorelaxant, and has the ability to increase the available levels of nitric oxide in the blood.
This is because it’s believed that CBD activates the PPARγ agonism, which has many positive effects on the cardiovascular system.
It’s important to note that these studies are small, and any changes to your treatment plan should be discussed with your doctor.
