Over 75 million Americans are suffering from high blood pressure, and fewer than half actually have the condition under control. Most times, the symptoms are non-existent for years. Today, we’re turning our focus to the use of CBD for high blood pressure.
CBD for high blood pressure at a glance
What the claims are: CBD can substantially lower a person’s blood pressure.
What the studies show: A study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information shows that subjects treated with a single dose of CBD found that it lowered their blood pressure substantially with no adverse side effects.
What the facts say: While more research is required to determine how CBD for blood pressure works in the long term, both anecdotal evidence and studies show that it may be able to help in the short term.
What is high blood pressure?
Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood our hearts pump and the resistance to that blood flowing through our arteries. More blood pumping through narrow arteries = higher blood pressure. Less blood pumping through more open arteries = lower blood pressure.
High blood pressure (or hypertension) is a condition that causes the force of the blood against your artery walls to be too high, which can eventually cause major health problems like heart disease. The tricky thing about high blood pressure is that, while some people cite having headaches or nose bleeds when their blood pressure i too high, if those symptoms do occur, they typically only occur at very high levels. Most people have no symptoms at all for years.
Unfortunately, even without symptoms, your blood vessels and heart can still suffer damage due to high blood pressure. Damage that can eventually result in a stroke or heart attack. The good news is that this condition is easily detected and there are many ways to help get it under control.
For most people, the cause of high blood pressure is unknown and it gradually occurs over the course of years. For others, it can be caused by an underlying condition. This is called “secondary hypertension” and often appears suddenly, causing a quick spike in blood pressure. Secondary hypertension can be caused by sleep apnea, kidney issues, thyroid problems, tumors, and various medications as well as illegal drugs such as amphetamines or cocaine.
Risk factors include age, race (people of African heritage suffer from high blood pressure that results in serious complications much more often), family history, lack of activity, salt intake, stress, and obesity.
How can CBD be used to help with high blood pressure?
Because CBD (cannabidiol) interacts with our bodies’ own cannabinoid receptors, CBD can affect various cognitive and physiological functions. This seems to include the lowering of our blood pressure. We’re reading all sorts of social media posts about how quickly CBD can get those numbers down and down very quickly, after a single use.
Another potential benefit of using CBD is that, due to its blanket effect, it might also help with another potential cause of high blood pressure. While anxiety isn’t believed to result in chronic, long term high blood pressure, it is known to cause blood pressure to spike suddenly. Because CBD is known to help calm anxiety, people who use it might also find that it can lower their resulting high blood pressure.
Medical Studies
Medical studies, while limited to date, do seem to show that CBD can help people suffering from high blood pressure. Studies have also shown that CBD can help with stress and anxiety, known risk factors for high blood pressure.
That said, until long-term studies are done on CBD for chronic hypertension, we don’t recommend stopping use of traditional, long-acting treatment options that may work to regulate blood pressure from day to day in a cumulative fashion.
When researching CBD for high blood pressure, we also found some posts from people discussing recent studies released regarding the potential link between long term cannabis use and high blood pressure. It’s important to note that these studies were not related to CBD-only products. While CBD is a compound derived from the cannabis plant, it is not the same as medical marijuana, which contains THC, which was the focus of the study.
What are the risks of using CBD for high blood pressure?
One of the many great things about CBD is that it’s generally well-tolerated by people who take it and has very few (and minor) potential side effects. Those that can present include dry mouth, lightheadedness, and drowsiness.
We also like to point out that a CBD for high blood pressure regimen might not work for everyone. It’s also crucial to pay close attention to product reviews and labels. There are many makers of CBD oil, and quality can range from excellent to poor, which will certainly affect your results.
Lastly, while anecdotal evidence seems to suggest that CBD doesn’t interact negatively with traditional blood pressure medications, it’s always good idea to check with your pharmacist or doctor to make sure.
Should I give CBD for high blood pressure a try?
Many people dealing with high blood pressure are finding that CBD can not only help lower their blood pressure very quickly and without side effects, they’re also finding it can help them sleep better and feel more relaxed. As always, you should check with your medical provider to find out if a CBD for high blood pressure regimen is right for you.
Sources Used:
- Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders
- A single dose of cannabidiol reduces blood pressure in healthy volunteers in a randomized crossover study
- Cannabinoid Receptors and the Endocannabinoid System: Signaling and Function in the Central Nervous System
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- CBD causing hypertension / high blood pressure?
- CBD for high blood pressure?
- Safe to take CBD with blood pressure lowering medication?
