How CBD Can Help Lower Your Blood Pressure
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost half of American adults have high blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure can lead to serious health issues like heart disease and a stroke, and in one year more than 500,000 deaths in the U.S. are attributed to high blood pressure.
Clearly, blood pressure problems are no joke, yet managing them can be a struggle for many. A number of factors, including genetics, age, activity levels, stress, and diet can cause high blood pressure. And, according to Cleveland Clinic, certain types of high blood pressure such as resistant hypertension are difficult to treat with medication alone.
For some, CBD may be the natural, over-the-counter solution needed to lower blood pressure. Research shows that CBD could play a major role in blood pressure management, without needing a prescription from your doctor — and here's how CBD could work to protect your heart health.
CBD may support both the mind and body to lower blood pressure
Anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and even cancer symptoms may be alleviated just by using CBD. It seems that this chemical compound can do just about anything. But how exactly does it help those with high blood pressure?
There are a couple of ways that CBD works to lower blood pressure. Discover Magazine explains that CBD is a vasodilator, meaning that it helps to open the blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more easily. Vasodilation is triggered when the body's CB-1 cannabinoid receptors are stimulated, which then promotes circulation through the dilated blood vessels. As a result, the heart doesn't have to work as hard to get the blood flowing throughout the body, lowering blood pressure levels.
Besides dilating blood vessels, CBD has also been shown to relieve stress, a key factor in high blood pressure for many (per Healthline). Experts believe that CBD stimulates serotonin signals, which helps to improve mood and stave off anxiety and depression. This may, in turn, ease the heart and help to control high blood pressure.
Here's how to take CBD to lower your blood pressure
CBD is easily accessible in most areas, and there's a range of CBD products to choose from to help lower your blood pressure. Medical News Today recommends skipping the CBD massage lotions and going straight for products that are edible and ingested orally instead. This includes gummies, capsules, oils, and tinctures. Each CBD product should clearly state its recommended dosage and be lab tested by a third party to ensure quality.
For most people, CBD is safe to use on a daily basis, and ongoing consumption may be necessary to maintain its effects on your blood pressure. When in doubt, talk to your doctor to make sure that CBD is a safe option for you and your current condition. They can confirm if CBD products are safe to use along with any other blood pressure medications you're using, and they may suggest other methods to try alongside CBD, such as exercise and a healthy diet, to get the best results.