Nearly half of adults in the United States have high blood pressure. And only about 1 in 4 adults with high blood pressure have their condition under control. Also, more than half a million deaths in the United States had high blood pressure as a primary and contributing cause.
Therefore high blood pressure also referred to as hypertension, is a medical condition affecting millions of people. And finding the proper remedy and medication is a priority for individuals affected by this condition.
This search has led to an interest in a natural remedy known as CBD (cannabidiol), which is a cannabis compound. But can a cannabis compound help with hypertension? Can CBD lower blood pressure? These are just some of the questions that might be racking your brain.
However, you can stop overthinking about CBD and high blood pressure. Since in this post, we will learn what hypertension is, what causes it and other alternative methods you can utilize to lower it. Also, how can CBD help lower your blood pressure? And does the science support using CBD for high blood pressure?
What Is Hypertension?
It is when your blood pressure is higher than normal.
And blood pressure is when the force of blood pushes against the wall of arteries. It is okay for blood pressure to rise and fall throughout the day. But when this pressure is consistently high, it does lead to hypertension.
There are two types of hypertension and are,
• Primary (essential) hypertension develops over some time and has no secondary and identifiable cause.
• Secondary hypertension occurs suddenly and does cause higher blood pressure than primary hypertension. It can also be affected by an underlying condition like kidney disease, thyroid issues, alcohol consumption, sleep apnea, and using certain medications such as cocaine and birth control pills.
What Causes Hypertension?
The exact causes of high blood pressure are unknown but, other factors play a role and increase your risk of having this condition. They include:
• Being overweight
• Consuming too much alcohol
• Lack of physical activity and working out
• Stress
• Your age where the older you get, you increase your chances of developing hypertension
• Genetics and family history where if hypertension affected parents and close family members, you are more likely to develop it.
• Consuming a diet high in salt
• Sleep apnea
• Smoking and tobacco use
• Chronic conditions like kidney disease may increase your risk of high blood pressure.
• Your race where high blood pressure is more common in non-Hispanic black adults than adults of other races
Can CBD Lower Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure is usually referred to as a “silent killer” because there are no clear signs and symptoms to look out for. Therefore you might have hypertension but not know about it because it develops slowly over time.
It is advisable to take a blood pressure test where a pressure-measuring gauge is, placed around your arm. It determines whether you have normal blood pressure or hypertension.
Thus it is crucial to be aware of the risk factors and what causes hypertension.
Seeing as high blood pressure puts you at an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart failure.
Hence it is not absurd for patients with hypertension to know whether CBD can help lower their blood pressure.
Although CBD is a cannabis compound, it will not lead to the high associated with this plant. It is because CBD is non-psychoactive. And the compound associated with causing euphoria is known as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).
Therefore individuals interested in using CBD for high blood pressure should not be troubled because CBD is safe and well-tolerated.
In terms of research and science, there is evidence that you can use CBD to help lower blood pressure.
A 2017 study investigated if CBD reduces blood pressure in humans. Nine (9) healthy male volunteers were given 600 mg of CBD or placebo in a randomized study. They were involved in different stress tests that would increase their blood pressure and heart rate.
The findings showed that blood pressure was lower after subjects had taken CBD and that CBD reduced the blood pressure response to stress.
Therefore CBD reduces blood pressure during the different stress tests and also has a lower stroke volume. So CBD performed better than a placebo in helping lower blood pressure.
But despite this, further research is still required to establish whether CBD has any role in relieving cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension.
A 2020 study investigated if CBD could widen your blood vessels (vasodilation). It is because narrowed arteries are associated with high blood pressure.
Hence CBD has been suggested as a potential antihypertensive drug. So in human pulmonary arteries, will CBD have its vasodilatory effect?
An endocannabinoid like cannabidiol did cause the relaxation of both human and rat pulmonary arteries. And they have been suggested to represent a possible option in the relief of hypertension.
The results showed that CBD could be a potential relevant vasorelaxant. Also, CBD caused almost full relaxation of the human pulmonary arteries.
Therefore when CBD, was utilized in both animals and humans in the study. CBD caused the relaxation of rats’ small arteries but only almost half-maximal relaxation of human arteries. Thus the blood vessels are widened, blood flow is improved, and blood pressure is, reduced.
This research is encouraging for people affected by hypertension. But despite this, more research is needed to know the potential of CBD for high blood pressure.
Alternatives Methods That Can Help Lower Blood Pressure
CBD alone cannot help you lower your blood pressure. But by utilizing other alternative methods besides medication, you can relieve hypertension. And some of these methods are:
• Exercise regularly, since it will help you lose some extra pounds.
A 2016 study examined the effects of exercise on blood pressure. The results showed that regardless of the participant and exercise characteristics, there was a reduction in blood pressure in the hours that followed an exercise session.
• Reduce and manage your stress by utilizing different techniques like meditation and yoga.
Research shows that stress does not directly cause hypertension but can have an effect on its development. It can lead to repeated blood pressure elevations, which eventually may lead to hypertension.
• Avoid consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. Therefore, apply moderation.
• Reduce your sodium and salt intake since it narrows the blood vessels.
• Get enough sleep which is 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night.
•Consume some dark chocolate.
A 2017 study examined the effect of cocoa products on blood pressure in adults. Dark chocolate and cocoa products are rich in chemical compounds called flavanols. These flavanols have attracted interest as they might help to reduce blood pressure by widening the blood vessels.
The interest in the effect of cocoa on blood pressure started with the discovery of an island population in Panama, Central America, with the Kuna Indians inhabitants.
They had a distinctively low rate of hypertension coupled with a consistent healthy low blood pressure unaffected by age. It’s because the island‐dwelling Kuna Indians consumed about three to four cups of cocoa drinks on average per day.
And among those Kuna Indians, the ones that migrated to the mainland had a higher prevalence of hypertension plus a rise in blood pressure. They consumed up to 10 times less cocoa.
However, longer‐term trials are still needed to establish whether regularly eating flavanol‐rich cocoa products has a beneficial effect on blood pressure.
Conclusion
Can CBD lower blood pressure is the first question most hypertension patients want to know? And fortunately, there is some evidence that you can use CBD for high blood pressure.
There has been a rise in seeking natural remedies like CBD to help with different ailments and conditions. It is because such treatments are considered safer and much more effective.
Most medication prescribed for hypertension has adverse side effects and, individuals affected by this condition search for alternative treatment options. And CBD has come to the fore as a potential relief option.
But CBD is not meant to replace your prescribed drugs.
And if you are interested in taking CBD products and then using hypertension medication like metoprolol beta-blockers, always consult your doctor.
Yes, CBD products are safe to use with few side effects but, drug interaction can happen. It means that CBD and your hypertension medication may interact and undermine the potency of the product and drug you are taking.
Many individuals affected by hypertension would want to use CBD as an alternative to their usual treatment plan. And also because it has shown that it may help in reducing your blood pressure. But when you use CBD products and hypertension medication together, it may lower blood pressure too much.
It is because each product can lower blood pressure on its own. Therefore it is crucial to start using CBD with a small dosage.
Nevertheless, do speak with your doctor before taking any of these products and medication to help with hypertension.
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Disclaimer: fabuleaf’s products have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended for diagnosing, treating, curing or preventing any disease. Any information discussed in this blog is not a replacement for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor or physician for medical advice.