High blood pressure affects nearly half of all adults in the U.S. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 116 million Americans suffer from high blood pressure [1]. This condition is associated with serious medical conditions, including strokes and heart attacks. Many people who have high blood pressure don’t realize it because the condition typically does not have symptoms. This makes it important for you to check your blood pressure regularly.
If you have high blood pressure, you might have heard from friends or acquaintances that taking CBD might help to lower it. Before you start taking CBD, you need to understand the research and talk to your doctor. Here’s some information from Sugar Bottom Hemp about CBD and its potential benefits for hypertension.
Understanding Hypertension
Your blood pressure refers to the pressure your blood places against your arterial walls. While it is normal for your blood pressure to vary throughout the day, if your levels are consistently high, it is a problem.
Primary hypertension is the most common type of this condition. It gradually develops without a known cause but might be linked to being overweight or obese, undergoing physical changes in your body, or genetic factors.
Secondary hypertension is the second form of the condition and is more serious. This type of high blood pressure arises suddenly and can be caused by thyroid problems, congenital heart defects, kidney disease, alcohol abuse, and taking certain stimulants or medications.
Hypertension is frequently silent, meaning you might not have symptoms until the condition is severe. When it becomes severe, you might experience the following symptoms:
- Chronic headaches
- Shortness of breath
- Nosebleeds
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Visual changes
- Blood in your urine
- Flushed appearance
If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor immediately.
Understanding CBD
Cannabidiol (CBD) is an active compound of the cannabis plant, but it is not psychoactive and won’t make you feel high. Instead, it may have health benefits, including the potential reduction of inflammation, pain, and anxiety. The health benefits of CBD are largely unknown as research is still in its early stages.
CBD comes in several types, including isolate, broad-spectrum, and full-spectrum CBD. CBD isolate is a pure form of the compound. Both broad- and full-spectrum CBD include other cannabis plant compounds. Full-spectrum CBD will contain a small amount of THC under 0.3%, but it will not contain enough to produce a high.
These CBD forms can be made into multiple products, including the following:
- Infused tinctures and oils
- Edibles
- Topical products
- Capsules
- Vape products
Best CBD For Pain
What Happens When You Use CBD?
When you ingest CBD, it interacts with your endocannabinoid system, which is believed to regulate multiple processes within your body. Endocannabinoids are molecules that are naturally produced by your body. You also have endocannabinoid receptors that are located throughout your body to which endocannabinoids bind. CBD likewise binds to endocannabinoid receptors. Finally, your body has enzymes that break down the endocannabinoids after they have been used. Currently, researchers believe the endocannabinoid system works to maintain homeostasis through the following functions:
- Digestive processes
- Pain
- Metabolism
- Motor control
- Sleep
- Mood
CBD and Blood Pressure: Research
Few research studies have been completed on the effects of CBD on blood pressure. The research that has been completed shows that CBD may help lower blood pressure, but it is not definitive. A few studies are described below.
Study Shows CBD May Lower Blood Pressure
A small study that was conducted in 2017 found that a single dose of CBD taken by healthy individuals was linked to reduced blood pressure [2]. The researchers looked at the potential effects of CBD on nine healthy males who volunteered to participate. The nine participants were randomly assigned to a placebo group or an experimental group. Those in the experimental group received a single 600 mg dose of CBD.
Those who were given CBD showed reduced resting blood pressure and reduced blood pressure during or after stress as compared to those who received a placebo. However, the extremely small study size and the lack of female participants means that the study’s results can’t be generally applied to the public.
Study on the Effects of CBD on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate in Mice
In a study that looked at the effects of CBD on blood pressure and heart rate in mice, researchers found that it might reduce increases in heart rate and blood pressure that occur because of stress [3]. However, the results of mice studies might not be similar to what might be found in human studies.
Study Involving Rats Found No Blood Pressure Lowering Effects
In 2020, researchers that looked at the effects of CBD in reducing blood pressure found that rats that received it did not show any significant reductions [4]. However, they did find that CBD had antioxidative effects on the rats that received it. Some other research has pointed to antioxidants playing a role in the reduction of hypertension [5].
Study Shows CBD May Help Reduce Blood Pressure in Patients Under Stress
Another 2020 study compared the effects of CBD on rats and humans [6]. Researchers found that humans who were experiencing stress might enjoy reduced blood pressure when they are administered CBD.
Study of Medical Cannabis in Elderly Patients
Researchers have also looked at medical cannabis as opposed to CBD and its potential effects on blood pressure. In a 2021 study, researchers found that elderly patients with high blood pressure who were given medical cannabis showed reduced blood pressure [7]. However, this study looked at the potential effects of medical cannabis, which contains the psychoactive component THC in larger quantities and less CBD.
While researchers have found that CBD might be beneficial for cardiovascular disease, additional studies are necessary to understand its effectiveness.
Takeaways
If you are considering trying CBD to help manage hypertension, you should speak to your doctor first. CBD could potentially interact with other medications you are taking, and you should not stop taking the anti-hypertensives prescribed by your physician.
CBD might be an option to consider when you are dealing with hypertension. If your doctor agrees, it will be important for you to choose a reliable source like Sugar Bottom Hemp. To learn more about our full line-up of CBD products and which might be the best option for you, contact us today.
Bibliography
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Facts About Hypertension. https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/facts.htm#:~:text=Nearly%20half%20of%20adults%20in,are%20taking%20medication%20for%20hypertension.
[2] Jadoon, K. A., Tan, G. D., & O’Sullivan, S. E. (2017). A single dose of cannabidiol reduces blood pressure in healthy volunteers in a randomized crossover study. JCI insight, 2(12). doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.93760
[3] Sultan, S. R., Millar, S. A., England, T. J., & O’Sullivan, S. E. (2017). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the haemodynamic effects of cannabidiol. Frontiers in pharmacology, 81. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2017.00081/full?fbclid=IwAR14F33U2kuu8uRjjEXg5-Z3NtodrBD4bsLVYuzNgy4sJ9YHrSLmjGNS_p4
[4] Remiszewski, P., Jarocka-Karpowicz, I., Biernacki, M., Jastrząb, A., Schlicker, E., Toczek, M., … & Malinowska, B. (2020). Chronic cannabidiol administration fails to diminish blood pressure in rats with primary and secondary hypertension despite its effects on the cardiac and plasma endocannabinoid system, oxidative stress and lipid metabolism. International journal of molecular sciences, 21(4), 1295. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21041295
[5] https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2018.00258/full
[6] Baranowska-Kuczko, M., Kozłowska, H., Kloza, M., Sadowska, O., Kozłowski, M., Kusaczuk, M., … & Malinowska, B. (2020). Vasodilatory effects of cannabidiol in human pulmonary and rat small mesenteric arteries: Modification by hypertension and the potential pharmacological opportunities. Journal of hypertension, 38(5), 896. doi: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000002333
[7] Abuhasira, R., Haviv, Y. S., Leiba, M., Leiba, A., Ryvo, L., & Novack, V. (2021). Cannabis is associated with blood pressure reduction in older adults–a 24-hours ambulatory blood pressure monitoring study. European Journal of Internal Medicine, 86, 79-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejim.2021.01.005
