Know what hypertension is and how can CBD help prevent it
Even with the introduction of CBD to the whole world, more people still become sickly because of poor lifestyle. Most of us are actually in danger of becoming hypertensive at some point in our lives.
Take the United States, as an example. In a 2015 study, one out of three adults experienced high blood pressure. That’s about 32 percent of American adults.
To make it worse, people as young as 20 years old can experience hypertension. Unfortunately, only 54 percent of those affected are under maintenance.
Imagine more than 1,100 deaths per day, thanks to high blood pressure. Can we avoid this? Can CBD actually help lower blood pressure?
This article aims to give you a better understanding of CBD and how it could help you avoid hypertension. You know as they say, prevention is better than cure.
CBD: An Introduction
So, what is CBD?
Cannabidiol – or CBD- is one of the many cannabinoids found in the cannabis sativa plant. It does not give a euphoric sensation. THC is the one that does that.
Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC is the principal cannabinoid found in the plant. It binds with receptors in the body, which is why you would feel the kick when you try products with THC.
What is Hypertension?
Blood pressure itself is a natural force in our body to push blood against the walls in our vessels. If the force is too strong, there is something wrong.
The American Heart Association defines hypertension as the phenomenon in which our blood pressure is higher than normal. That’s why many people know it as high blood pressure (HBP).
How Would I Know if I have High Blood Pressure?
Unfortunately, HBP is also known as a silent killer. You would not detect the symptoms right away unless you measure it using a sphygmomanometer.
Yes, that mouthful is a device to monitor your blood pressure using millimeters of mercury (or mmHg) as a unit. You can just call it blood pressure meter if you’re bothered with sphygmomanometer.
When you get your blood pressure, you would typically hear, “120 over 80”. Those two numbers measure your systolic and diastolic blood pressures.
The systolic blood pressure is the blood vessel pressure every time your heart beats. Meanwhile, the diastolic blood pressure is the pressure in between every beat.
Generally, 120/80 mmHg is a normal blood pressure. If it reads 140/90 mmHg, that’s already hypertension.
If your numbers are in between, then you are on the waiting list. In the medical world, they call it prehypertension. Yes, you are getting there.
There are some rare cases in which the sufferer would feel like vomiting or would have a headache. But the best way to know is to have a medical professional read the blood pressure meter.
Who Can Experience Hypertension?
If you are an adult and you have the worst lifestyle in the world, consider yourself a candidate. The more bad habits you have, the greater the risk.
Seriously, you are at high risk if you:
- Suffer from diabetes
- Suffer from obesity
- Smoke or are exposed to secondhand smoke
- Have high cholesterol intake
- Are not getting enough physical exercise
- Eat food with too much sodium and low potassium
- Drink alcohol excessively
There are some factors that cannot be controlled:
- Sleep apnea
- Gender (sufferers are usually male)
- Family history
- Aging
- Race
- Chronic kidney disease
- Psychosocial stress
If you analyze the lists above, you may have realized by now that hypertension can most likely be controlled. You can sum it up in four words: lead a healthy lifestyle.
Can CBD Lower Blood Pressure?
CBD is a great alternative to treat pain and other health conditions, which include heart problems. In a study done in 2017, scientists proved that CBD calms down the cardiovascular system in response to stress.
The test was done to healthy individuals and it was concluded that a single dose of CBD can reduce high blood pressure. After determining this, the subjects were asked to do strenuous activities.
Those who took CBD before the stress test also experienced an increase in their blood pressure. However, it was not as significant as for those who were given a placebo.
Furthermore, this study also showed that CBD helps calm down people suffering from arrhythmia and myocardial infarction. However, researchers are yet to conclude.
Is it Safe to Use CBD for Hypertension?
As of writing, CBD has no known negative effects in the body. It is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, which makes it fairly safe.
If you are taking other synthetic medications, I suggest that you seek the advice of your physician. CBD is not fatal but you would not know how it would affect you when you combine it with other medicine.
You cannot just rely on CBD, though. It is still best that you:
- Do not expose yourself to secondhand smoke. If you smoke, reduce or quit.
- Control your diet. Eat healthy.
- Choose your battles. Don’t stress yourself too much with just about anything in life.
- Try walking or jogging. Your body needs to have an activity within the day.
- Don’t get wasted all the time. Reduce alcohol intake.
Takeaway
CBD is one of the most important discoveries in medical history. It helps you alleviate pain and inflammation, among others.
Though scientists need more tests to prove it, there is a significant change that can happen when you use CBD for high blood pressure.
CBD offers a lot of health benefits. When combined with tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, it could actually do more.
But the best way is prevention. You can combine exercise, healthy diet, and CBD with your daily activities. Make it a routine and enjoy life longer than expected.
In most cases, you can prevent hypertension. But with the help of CBD as an alternative supplement, you give yourself more chances of winning in life.
Sources
1. What is High Blood Pressure? American Heart Association, 2017; https://www.heart.org/-/media/data-import/downloadables/pe-abh-what-is-high-blood-pressure-ucm_300310.pdf
2. High Blood Pressure Signs and Symptoms, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, July 7, 2014; https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/signs_symptoms.htm
3. A single dose of cannabidiol reduces blood pressure in healthy volunteers in a randomized crossover study; Khalid A. Jadoon, Garry D. Tan, and Saoirse E. O’Sullivan, June 15, 201; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5470879/ and https://insight.jci.org/articles/view/93760
4. Cannabidiol (CBD) — what we know and what we don’t, Peter Grinspoon MD, August 24, 2018; https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476
5. Is the cardiovascular system a therapeutic target for cannabidiol? British Pharmacological Society, Christopher P. Stanley William H. Hind Saoirse E. O’Sullivan, June 1, 2012; https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04351.x
6. High Blood Pressure Fact Sheet, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, June 16, 2016; https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_bloodpressure.htm
Disclaimer: This article is intended for information and entertainment purposes only and is not intended to reflect the specific views of the publication or provide medical advice.
