Current research results are showing that CBD oil has potential in the treatment of high blood pressure

Recent studies show that CBD could be a natural way to address the growing problem of hypertension among adults. 

Better known as high blood pressure, hypertension affects a third of adults over 20, approximately 75 million Americans. Of that number, the percentage of adults in their mid-60s with high blood pressure climbs to two-thirds, some 50 million. Globally, approximately 1.13 billion people have been diagnosed with hypertension, two-thirds of them living in low- and middle-income countries. 

What is hypertension?

Blood pressure is a vital sign that can be measured in millimeters, required to move a column of mercury one unit, or mmHg, the numbers indicate the pressure applied to blood flow throughout the body’s vein network.

When your doctor or nurse checks your blood pressure, she is looking at two measurements: systolic and diastolic. Systolic pressure, which should be below 120 mmHg, indicates the pressure your blood is exerting on your artery walls when your heartbeats. Diastolic pressure measures the “resting” pressure of your blood between heartbeats. Normal diastolic pressure readings are below 80 mmHg.

Your blood pressure changes throughout the day, depending on your environmental, physical, and emotional reactions to what’s happing around you. In most cases, there are no symptoms of high blood pressure, making it a high-risk condition if left untreated.

Blood pressure higher than 180/120 mmHg means you are potentially experiencing organ damage, such as kidney failure. Other signs of excessively high blood pressure include chest/back pain, shortness of breath, numbness/weakness, a change in vision, or difficulty speaking—all signs to see a doctor immediately.

Untreated hypertension increases your risk of stroke and heart attack or other cardiovascular diseases.

Causes of Hypertension

There are two different types of high blood pressure.

Essential hypertension, the most common type of high blood pressure, affects 90 to 95% of people with hypertension. It has no direct cause, but it has been linked to smoking, obesity, stress, alcohol, and elevated levels of salt in the diet.

Genetics also has a role. If you have a family history of hypertension, you are more likely to develop it. Other factors include low birth weight and high levels of renin, an enzyme found in the kidneys that are involved in the production of angiotensin II. A hormone, angiotensin II integrates cardiovascular and renal functions to control blood pressure.

An identifiable condition that affects your kidneys, arteries, heart, or endocrine system causes secondary hypertension. With the treatment of secondary hypertension, it’s often possible to control the underlying condition and high blood pressure. That, in turn, reduces the risk of serious complications, such as heart disease, kidney failure, and stroke.

Can CBD oil lower blood pressure?

The short answer is: Yes, current research and studies agree that CBD oil reduces high blood pressure, showing that high doses of cannabidiol, or CBD oil, may well cause a modest drop in blood pressure. CBD oil impacts the re-uptake of the essential heart neurotransmitters controlling your cardiovascular system.  Early results of human and animal research have suggested cannabinoids have beneficial effects on arterial, pulmonary, and portal hypertension because of their vascular dilation or vasodilatory properties.

How can CBD oil help with high blood pressure?

Diet and exercise can have an impact on hypertension and help to prevent the incidence of high blood pressure. Also, there are two ways that CBD may help reduce your high blood pressure.

CBD interacts with your endocannabinoid system, controlling stimulation of the brain’s receptors, reducing the perception of pain, easing anxiety, and promoting relaxation and improved sleep quality. CBD’s other properties affect the endocannabinoid’s CB1 and CB2 receptors, which result in changes to the inflammatory, oxidative, and fibrogenic (or fibrous tissue systems) impacts on your body.

Recent research indicates that CBD oil could be beneficial for the treatment of cardiovascular ailments such as hypertension. The studies demonstrate that CBD is a vasodilator, allowing better blood flow through the venous network and normalizing blood pressure.

Potentially, CBD has neuroprotective properties that can protect your heart against cardiovascular conditions and stroke. Research suggests CBD’s vasodilatory effect can induce normal heart rhythm after an ischemic heart incident, as well as help heart performance following a heart attack.

Other research indicates that CBD also has anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) and analgesic effects, which help reduce resting blood pressure and stress-induced increases in blood pressure. Tests on adult males found that CBD reduced systolic pressure by an average of 5 mmHg before and after stress. During rest, CBD also decreased systolic pressure by 6 mmHg.

Cannabidiol works in more than one way to reduce hypertension. CBD affects several body functions that play a direct role in controlling blood pressure. As mentioned earlier, stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, and fatigue can influence blood pressure levels. While you may experience some or all of these factors, it’s the ongoing and long-term issues of insomnia, stress, and anxiety that have lasting effects on your blood pressure that can lead to hypertension. Research suggests CBD oil can help manage and lower the impact of all three.

CBD oil can stimulate calming effects. When you are consistently relaxed and feel calm, your blood pressure decreases, helping your heart rate to respond in kind.

Vasodilators are medicines that dilate the arteries and veins in your body. This class of drugs includes ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers. Vasodilation helps blood flow more easily. As a natural vasodilator, CBD oil can help improve cardiovascular health. High blood pressure can damage your heart and venous system, cannabidiol acts to allow the blood to flow more smoothly through your body.

High blood pressure can also lead to narrower veins and arteries. To pump blood through your cardiovascular system, your heart has to work harder, weakening your heart to the point that it can’t supply enough blood to the rest of the body.

Working harder, with the heart pumping blood too quickly, can also cause hypertension. Neurotransmitters, such as anandamide, have an important role in regulating heart function. Studies indicate that CBD oil reduces blood pressure.

CBD oil dosage for hypertension

A randomized, double-blind study, published in 2017, found that a single, large dose of CBD oil (600 mg) reduced resting blood pressure in healthy volunteers when compared to a placebo.

If you are taking prescription medication to regulate your high blood pressure, talk with your medical practitioner before you stock up on CBD oil. CBD can have an effect on prescription drugs, making it especially important to discuss your case with the doctor before you start a regimen of CBD oil.