IS CBD BENEFICIAL FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?
Some studies suggest that CBD might reduce high blood pressure, but there is insufficient substantial evidence to prove this. Others also add that CBD might help fight inflammation and free radicals, improving heart condition.
Many people believe in CBD therapy, and some take it for high blood pressure, although there is insufficient scientific evidence to prove that the cannabinoid has any effects on hypertension. High blood pressure remains one of the risk factors for heart disease, which many people must deal with. Meanwhile, other studies claim that taking CBD and its various delivery methods might improve inflammation and oxidative stress, which all affect the heart condition as much as high blood pressure. This article looks at CBD, high blood pressure, and related topics, helping you appreciate what you need to know before settling for the cannabinoid for the heart.
The Basics of High Blood Pressure and Why It Is a Concern
Besides cancer, heart disease is yet another cause of death every year. It does not come in a day but results from more than one factor, coming together and rendering cumulative effects. One factor of heart disease is high blood pressure, also called hypertension. Although blood pressure in the heart walls fluctuates from high to low and vice versa throughout the day, a condition in which it remains high for a long time is defined as high blood pressure. According to the American Heart Association (2017) report, high blood pressure is a silent killer since it hides for long and finds many people unawares. The report adds that by the time hypertension is diagnosed; a person usually has suffered it for long. Common symptoms accompanying high blood pressure after diagnosis include flushness, headaches, blood in the urine, dizziness, changes in vision, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, and chest pain, most of which come after the situation is serious. There are medications for hypertension and its symptoms, but not everyone finds a remedy in them. Meanwhile, the hype around CBD products increases since the cannabinoid is natural and scientific studies emphasize using natural alternatives.
What Is CBD?
CBD is gaining popularity daily, and many people are familiar with it. Ads are all about CBD doing this or that, hence the increased need to create awareness of it. Besides, CBD claims increase even when there is insufficient evidence to prove that it can help with the things it is linked to. Still, the big question remains, what is CBD? According to Mascal et al. (2019), CBD is a non-intoxicating chemical compound in cannabis plants. There are many plants in the cannabis class, hemp and marijuana being the most popular. Each cannabis plant has several active compounds called cannabinoids, and CBD is one of them. Another cannabinoid that is fast growing in popularity is THC, but unlike CBD, THC is psychoactive, as Schlienz et al. (2018) noted.
Why do many people relate to CBD among the more than 100 cannabinoids in nature? Imagine that more than 60% of US adults are under one form of CBD, as the Forbes Health (2022) report noted. Besides, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (Feb 2018), many people opt for CBD topicals to solve skin conditions. Why the much hype on CBD products? Kicman & Toczek (2020) found CBD non-intoxicating, and this is one reason people like it. Besides, Watt & Karl (2017) noted that CBD is therapeutic, another reason many people sign up for CBD products. The future is brighter, and we expect more people to embrace the cannabinoid and make it part of their daily regimen. Still, only with enough scientific studies will such a breakthrough be possible.
Is CBD Beneficial for High Blood Pressure?
As seen at the outset, high blood pressure is a predecessor of high disease, and yet it stays a silent killer and only presents itself when it cannot hide anymore. People believe in CBD therapy, and it seems like there is no single thing under the sun that CBD could not help with. Can you take CBD for high blood pressure and expect a remedy? There is insufficient evidence to prove this. However, Jadoon et al. (2017) reported that CBD reduced systematic and resting blood pressures in 9 individuals, suggesting that the cannabinoid could help with hypertension. Later the same year, Sultan et al. (2017) reviewed several CBD studies and concluded that the cannabinoid could effectively reduce high blood pressure. Still, this does not mean one needs to stop his medications and switch to CBD for high blood pressure.
CBD for Other Parameters of Heart Disease- Inflammation
High blood pressure is just but one factor that contributes to heart disease. Other factors include inflammation which might come before or after high blood pressure and trigger, exacerbate, or worsen the condition. Since CBD seems to help with most medical conditions, many wonder if it can improve heart conditions by fighting inflammation. Many studies support using CBD for inflammation, but there is insufficient evidence to back them up. For instance, Schuelert & McDougall (2011) and Hammell et al. (2016) found the cannabinoid great for inflammation in animals. Iffland & Grotenherman (2017) made more or less the same findings, proving that CBD might indeed help with inflammation. Still, it is worth noting that the FDA does not recognize the use of CBD for inflammation in and outside the heart disease context.
CBD and Oxidative Stress
Another factor that would make heart disease worse is oxidative stress. It results from the accumulation of free radicals, unstable compounds from the environment, and metabolic processes. Many chronic conditions, including high blood pressure and heart disease, are linked to oxidative stress. Can CBD help reduce oxidative stress and suppress the resulting heart-related problems? Atalay et al. (2019) noted that CBD features many antioxidants and boasts powerful anti-inflammatory properties suggesting that it is great for inflammation and oxidative stress. Yet, we need more research to prove this before recommending the cannabinoid for oxidative stress, especially in heart-related aspects.
Can CBD Interact with High Blood Pressure Medications?
Many hypertensive patients take CBD for high blood pressure, but we wait for more research to prove that the cannabinoid can help with the situation. Are you contemplating taking CBD for high blood pressure? You must know whether it will interact with other high blood pressure medication if you are on any. Meissner & Cascella (2021) reported that CBD could interact with blood thinners and reduce each other’s effectiveness, suggesting that one should not take the two together. Besides, Iffland & Grotenherman (2017) found CBD great for inflammation but added that the cannabinoid might interact with hypertension medications. For this reason, we don’t recommend CBD as medication for high blood pressure and advise people to seek professional advice before opting for the cannabinoid for hypertension or any health condition.
Is CBD Safe for High Blood Pressure?
Whether you have thought about taking CBD for high blood pressure or not, you must know if the cannabinoid is safe for your situation. According to Corroon & Phillips (2018), CBD boasts a good safety profile, showing that the cannabinoid is generally safe, and there are not many people who need to worry about it. However, many factors come to play as far as the safety of CBD products is concerned. For instance, the lack of regulation in the CBD world is a call for concern. The FDA does not recognize CBD as medication for any health challenge, nor has it claimed responsibility for supervising CBD production. This means many loopholes in the CBD world, and contaminants can easily sneak into CBD products. Second, insufficient evidence supports CBD use for hypertension, adding to the safety concerns around CBD products. The many CBD companies also compromise the safety of CBD products. It is almost impossible to tell genuine products apart from counterfeit ones.
CBD Side Effects
CBD has many positive sides, and it seems as though there is nothing it could not help with. Still, it is worth noting that CBD has side effects like coins with two sides. People treat the cannabinoid as safe, but this is not always the case. For instance, Bass & Linz (2020) documented a case in which a 56-year-old man experienced slurred speech and lost consciousness, only recovering a day later after a steady oxygen supply. The report shows that taking more CBD than the body can stand may harm you. Besides, Ewing et al. (2015) noted that while CBD is linked to many benefits, it may cause liver toxicity. Added to the safety concerns surrounding CBD, there is every reason to tread carefully on the cannabinoid. Some CBD fans have reported having dry lips, loss of appetite, and unexplained weight loss, which you must watch out for as you opt for CBD for whichever reason.
Types of CBD for High Blood Pressure
CBD is an umbrella term, but if you are serious about shopping for it, you must know its nitty-gritty. For instance, you must know the types of CBD you can explore since any product featuring CBD belongs to one of the following three types of CBD;
i. Full-spectrum CBD; is the most widely sought CBD, featuring the cannabinoid in its pure form but not without THC, terpenes, cannabinoids, and flavonoids. According to Russo (2011) and VanDolah et al. (2019), the many compounds in full-spectrum CBD lead to a full entourage effect, the main push behind CBD popularity.
ii. Broad-spectrum CBD; is more like full-spectrum CBD in composition but does not have THC, making it great for a THC-free full entourage effect.
iii. Isolate CBD; is the purest form of CBD, featuring the cannabinoid without any additional cannabis compound. It is, in fact, the surest way to consume CBD products without THC.
What Type of CBD is the Best for High Blood Pressure?
When new to the CBD world, there is much you would like to know about the cannabinoid. Are you looking forward to joining the CBD bandwagon specifically for high blood pressure? You must be wondering what type of CBD would be the best for such. Interestingly, there is no better form of CBD than the other, and regardless of the type you choose, you can look forward to the CBD-related benefits. Are isolates worse than other CBD types because of the lack of additional compounds? Not at all. According to Gallily et al. (2015), isolates can help fight inflammation. Perucca (2017) and De Gregorio et al. (2019) also found CBD good for seizures and neuropathic pains, further showing that CBD benefits the body, regardless of the type featured in its products.
Which CBD Deliverables Should You Try for High Blood Pressure?
As stated in the previous section, you have a lot of work to do when shopping for CBD products. Besides knowing if you will go for isolate, full- or broad-spectrum CBD, you must know the types of products you will opt for. Do you want CBD for high blood pressure? You can enjoy the cannabinoid in one of the following forms, all having pros and cons that one has to deal with;
i. CBD oils and tinctures; are liquid forks of CBD featuring oil or alcohol bases. You can administer CBD oils and tinctures orally or sublingually, allowing the cannabinoid to get to your system fast, although you must bear with the bitterness and earthiness of the oils.
ii. CBD edibles; are food-like CBD products, including CBD gummies, honey sticks, chocolates, drinks, and beverages. They are the sweetest ways of taking CBD and will not subject the tongue to the earthiness and bitterness of CBD oil. Still, they compromise CBD potency and bioavailability since they need to digest CBD before letting it into your system.
iii. CBD topicals; are best for people who want CBD benefits but do not want the cannabinoid in their system. They are among the most varied types of CBD, including CBD patches, balms, creams, and massage oils, whose effectiveness research is yet to determine.
iv. CBD vape oils; you can enjoy CBD vape oils using vape pens, allowing the cannabinoid to reach your system almost immediately. Still, the AP News (2019) and Center for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC (2020) reports showing that vaping is unhealthy and may expose the lungs to carcinogens and contaminants, leading to hospitalizations and increased lung disease rates.
v. CBD capsules; like medicine and supplements, CBD also comes in caps form, allowing you to enjoy the cannabinoid without feeling the earthiness and bitterness of CBD oil. Still, they compromise CBD bioavailability and potency like do CBD edibles since they need time to digest and process CBD before releasing it to your system.
The Best CBD Product for High Blood Pressure
With the many CBD deliverables in space, it is more than challenging to choose the best option to go for. Still, many CBD fans opt for CBD oils and tinctures for medical conditions. They are effective and allow you to feel CBD effects in no time, although you must learn to contend with their bitterness. Besides CBD oils, you can go for CBD capsules, pills, and softgels. Such do not let CBD interact with your mouth; hence you will not have to bear them a lot, although they delay CBD effects while taking time on digestion.
What to Consider When Buying CBD Products
The hemp space features many CBD brands you can choose when sourcing CBD products for high blood pressure or other things. With such a situation, selecting the best brand to go for is not easy, making the best CBD products almost impractical. Still, focusing on the following factors while buying CBD products increases our chances of landing the best products;
i. Environmental factors; ensure the CBD products are organic and do not feature inorganic compounds.
ii. Contaminant purity: the CBD industry is largely unregulated, and it is easier to sneak contaminants into your system through CBD products. Thus, ensure you read through the ingredient list of the CBD product you want to buy and confirm that it does not have heavy metals, toxins, and other standard contaminants.
iii. Extraction method; the extraction method that strips CBD from hemp surface is key since it determines how clean the CBD products will be. The better the quality of the extraction method, the higher the quality of the final products.
iv. 3rd party testing; it is only through 3rd party test results that you can confirm the factors above. Request the 3rd party test results for whatever CBD product you buy before paying for it.
CBD and High Effect
Although many people long to try CBD products, they are unable to because of the many uncertainties linked to the compound. For instance, many would like to know if CBD has a high effect. According to Schlienz et al. (2018), THC is psychoactive and linked to the high effect of smoking weed. How about CBD? According to Bauer et al. (2020), CBD is non-psychoactive, suggesting that it does not make you high. Still, the THC percentage of the CBD product you are buying is key as far as the high effect is of primary concern. The higher the THC percentage in the CBD product, the higher the chances of feeling mellow from CBD products.
CBD and Drug Tests
The other concern with products is how they affect drug tests. How do CBD products affect drug tests? Cannabis drug tests look for THC and its metabolites. Thus, if your CBD product does not have THC, you will not fail drug tests from it, and the reverse is also true. Still, the quality of the CBD product you bought matters. Low-quality THC-free products might still sneak THC into your system, making you fail drug tests.
Conclusion
Although there is a widespread use of CBD for high blood pressure, there is insufficient evidence to support such use. Besides, the FDA does not recognize CBD for treating or curing high blood pressure, so it does not recommend how to use it for the same. Do you need CBD for high blood pressure? You can buy CBD oils, pills, and capsules for this. Still, ensure you speak to your doctor before trying CBD for anything since early studies suggest that the cannabinoid might interact with medications, resulting in liver damage and toxicity. This article features all you need to know about CBD for high blood pressure.
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