One of the most common effects of CBD or cannabidiol is the relaxation of the individual, this has made it possible to fight against sleep disorders, present in some diseases, and, even so, without being a sick person, it helps to improve the daily routine, providing adequate rest.
If we combine this effect with a hypertensive person, we would have an almost perfect interaction, since by relaxing the individual they are less likely to increase their heart rate, but is the use of CBD to treat high blood pressure completely safe? o Are there any negative characteristics?
Next, we will expand the topic a little more, hoping to answer all your questions, we will use science as a mediator to understand how this cannabis compound works on our cardiovascular system, we will study every detail, to specify the benefits of this wonderful plant by treat hypertension.
Blood pressure and its elevation
As we probably already know, the cardiovascular system is what is responsible for supplying blood. Every corner of our body, its constant movement in combination with a correct diet, promotes the patient's cardiac health. When we talk about blood pressure, we refer to the force exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries.
But when we want to talk about your condition we refer to it as high blood pressure, high blood pressure or hypertension, Julián Segura, president of the Spanish Society of Hypertension-Spanish League for the Fight against Arterial Hypertension, developed a quite practical concept to Explain to the general public what this blood pressure abnormality means. Making a comparison with the drain pipe at home, this represents the arteries, and the water that runs through them represents the blood.
In order to maintain proper functioning and avoid damage to the arteries, correct blood flow must be regulated, in this way an increase in heart rate that can harm the patient is prevented.
In Spain there are more than 14 million individuals with hypertension, which can worsen if it is not treated on time or regularly. causing myocardial infarctions, poor circulation, among others.
The medications used for this condition are quite numerous and effective, as are natural medications. Each treatment will depend on the state of hypertension you are in, as well as your body.
The symptoms that we can see during an episode of serious hypertension, dizziness, intense headache often focused on the eye due to intraocular pressure, sweating, agitation, sometimes fainting and substernal pain. The causes could be purely hereditary, as well as dietary with risk factors that could contribute to its development, such as obesity, sedentary lifestyle and poor blood circulation.
Seeing a cardiologist if you have some of the symptoms or have a very poor diet, accompanied by a sedentary lifestyle and a family history of hypertension, is the most recommended, at least once or twice a year, this will allow you to evaluate a possible diagnosis and a proper treatment.
Research on CBD in hypertension
The following studies are reflected in this article in order to support and specify the positive effect of CBD on increasing blood pressure.
A 2016 study carried out by researchers from the United States, Israel, Hungary, Switzerland and Taiwan, analyzed the behavior of CBD in myocarditis, in order to take advantage of the anti-inflammatory benefit of cannabidiol in myocardial inflammation, in an animal model with said condition, resulting in an attenuation of the immune antigen CD3 and CD4 and therefore an decrease in inflammation of the heart walls, in turn reducing the risk of heart failure and helping to recover to a normal state.
Another study from 2015, carried out by various Asian researchers, consisted of observing the action of CBD in patients who have suffered a heart attack. This study was also carried out in animals. When inducing a heart attack in rabbits, they were administered 2 doses of 100 mcg/min. kg of CBD, resulting in a reduction in the size of the AMI, as well as promoting the restoration of left ventricular function. The researchers concluded that CBD could be potentially useful to help improve the recovery of post-infarction patients.
A 2006 study tried to find a relationship between different types of risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol, including marijuana consumption with the development of cardiovascular risk in 3617 young adults, of which only 38% admitted having consumed marijuana in the past. At the end of the study it was demonstrated that marijuana consumption had no relevance in the development of cardiovascular diseases, while alcohol and tobacco did.
On the other hand, a fairly old study from 1974 confirmed the participation of the psychoactive compound in cannabis, called THC, with a decrease in blood pressure and heart rate in cats, achieving this action through an interaction with the central nervous system, probably with the endocannabinoid CB1 receptor.
A last study that we will mention was the one carried out in 2017, where they wanted to check if CBD had properties to reduce blood pressure in humans, so they selected 9 healthy male volunteers involved in a double-blind, crossover investigation with CBD and placebo. , to whom 600 mg of CBD was administered to one group and a placebo to the other, the result was a reduction in systolic blood pressure at rest of -6mmHg and stroke volume in -8mmHg, however, heart rate was increased and a constant cardiac output.
This allowed the researchers to conclude that acute CBD administration could reduce blood pressure at rest and increase it in the face of stress, but with an increased heart rate. Likewise, the researchers noted that much more research was necessary to provide information that heart patients can use.
Forms of action of CBD in the cardiovascular system, as collected
First of all, it is good to establish some points of information, such as that CB1 receptors are mainly involved in the central nervous system and in systems where blood pressure is regulated, and CB2 is mainly found in the immune system, although There are certain amounts in the nervous system and brain.
The latter participate in the regulation of blood pressure or in response to inflammation due to an infection or injury. Because there is a greater demand for CB1 receptors in cardiovascular regulation systems, this is the one that will have the greatest effect.
- Anti-inflammatory benefits: This property of CBD will help inflammation of the heart muscle, caused by specific reasons. We can observe this effect in one of the studies mentioned above.
- Dilation of the arteries: According to research, it appears that this compound can cause a relaxing effect on the arteries, through the release of nitric oxide, causing the arteries to dilate. On the other hand, CBD has the ability to block calcium channels, causing relaxation and therefore dilation of the arteries.
- High sugar levels: The exact mechanism by which CBD can reduce the effects of high blood sugar levels is not yet known, but some research has proven this effect.
- No to stress: Stress in hypertensive people can be a risk factor, making them more prone to elevated blood pressure, and thanks to the effect of CBD against stress, this can prevent hypertension.
- Reduces excess fluids: An increase in fluids in the body can lead to hypertension, thanks to the properties of CBD to allow the entry of potassium into the cell, facilitating the expulsion of sodium and therefore a decrease in the fluid volume in the cells.
Some final remarks
As we have seen, CBD participates in the regulation of blood pressure, however, it does so under certain parameters. According to some research, this function is not possible in hypertensive people, although it is also said that it will depend on each individual.
On the other hand, the consumption of THC, the main activator of the CB1 receptor, could produce an increase in blood pressure. It is also said that this increase only lasts a few minutes and then everything normalizes. In fact, they compare it with the effect it has. sexual activity on blood pressure, however, research indicates that this initial elevation could be harmful to the patient.
CBD is an excellent cannabis compound, which has been victorious as a treatment for an infinite number of diseases, giving the patient an improvement in their quality of life, but there are certain parameters that warrant that research continue in order to have a concrete conclusion about the advantage of this compound on, for example, blood pressure.
If you consider the use of this cannabinoid to treat your hypertension, we recommend doing so under medical judgment, since the research results are not entirely concrete, the best thing is a medical evaluation and a subsequent decision. We do not recommend its use without the strict supervision of a professional.
We invite you to continue informing yourself about the advances of this wonderful compound and thus allow you to reinforce your acquired knowledge, for this you can periodically visit our section. news and curiosities.