Do you have high blood pressure or know someone who does? Chances are the answer to that question is yes, since hypertension is a pervasive condition in our country.
What would you say if we told you that you may be able to control your high blood pressure — not with medications causing nasty side effects — but with a natural product like CBD oil?
We’re guessing you would be pretty happy about it.
In this article, we will introduce some exciting new evidence that you can do just that and give you more information on how. Plus, we’ll let you know how you can find the best CBD products on the market.
Table of Contents
- What Causes High Blood Pressure?
- What Is Hypertension?
- Can CBD Help High Blood Pressure?
- Can CBD Reduce Blood Pressure?
- How Science Supports Using CBD For Blood Pressure
- Using Different CBD Products for Blood Pressure Management
- Are There Health Risks to Using CBD for Blood Pressure Management?
- Explore the Best CBD Products for Your Blood Pressure Management at Hail Mary Jane
What Causes High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure — often called the silent killer because many people who have it typically do not experience symptoms — is a serious condition that can cause many other health problems and even lead to death.
High blood pressure is linked to higher risks of many health conditions, including:
- Heart attack
- Stroke; and
- Metabolic syndrome
The CDC estimates that about half of the adults in the United States have high blood pressure. Even worse, only about 1 in 4 of those have it under control.
And in 2018, close to half a million deaths in the US included hypertension as the main cause or a contributor.
There are two types of high blood pressure: primary or essential hypertension and secondary hypertension.
Primary hypertension, which affects most adults, has no identifiable cause and usually develops gradually over time.
Secondary hypertension appears suddenly and causes higher blood pressure than primary. It is caused by underlying conditions, such as:
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Lack of physical activity
- Too much alcohol consumption
- Stress
- Older age
- Chronic kidney disease
- Adrenal or thyroid disorders
- Pain
- Sleep apnea
- Genetics
- Family history of high blood pressure
- Illegal drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines
- Certain medications such as birth control pills, cold remedies, and decongestants
What Is Hypertension?
Hypertension is just another name for high blood pressure. As the name implies, the long-term force of blood against the body’s artery walls is high enough that it can damage them and eventually lead to problems such as heart disease.
Can CBD Help High Blood Pressure?
We already know that CBD has many uses, but is there a link between CBD oil and blood pressure treatment?
New evidence has indicated that there is. Let’s explore this further.
Can CBD Reduce Blood Pressure?
Studies have shown that CBD decreases blood pressure. We will look more into the scientific studies later in the article, but these results show great promise for treating a huge medical issue.
There are several effects of CBD that may help with high blood pressure:
- CBD use causes vasodilation of the arteries. This widening of the blood vessels may increase blood flow and reduce pressure.
- CBD is an effective treatment for stress and anxiety. Since these conditions can lead to an increase in blood pressure, it stands to reason that controlling them with CBD would also help with hypertension.
- CBD is known to reduce pain. Chronic or acute pain can cause blood pressure to rise, so relieving the pain may also lower blood pressure.
There is still a great deal of research to be done in this area, but proponents of CBD are excited about the possibilities of using it to consistently treat high blood pressure.
How Much Does CBD Lower Blood Pressure?
In a study where healthy, random volunteers were given a single dose of CBD, the numbers were impressive. Systolic blood pressure (the top number) was reduced by up to 20 points, and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) was reduced by up to 10 points.
How Science Supports Using CBD For Blood Pressure
Increasing numbers of studies are being done to explore CBD’s therapeutic actions and potential. But not much research has been completed regarding CBD and high blood pressure.
However, the data we do have about this topic is encouraging.
Besides the study we mentioned before, there is also limited clinical data concerning the role of cannabinoids in hypertension. This points to CBD having a hypotensive effect, meaning that it lowers blood pressure.
There has also been a study of the vasodilatory effects of CBD in human pulmonary arteries. The results of this study are promising in the fight against hypertension.
Using Different CBD Products for Blood Pressure Management
We’ve seen evidence that the use of CBD could be beneficial for people with high blood pressure. Now let’s discuss some of the different CBD products out there and try to find out if they are equally effective in treating hypertension.
Does CBD Oil Lower Blood Pressure?
Can CBD oil lower blood pressure? According to the scientific study we mentioned before, it can.
The volunteers in the study were given their dose of cannabidiol in the form of 600 mg of CBD oil.
There are various ways to ingest CBD oil, but a quick and simple one is just to take it under the tongue. Some people even like to hold it there for a while before swallowing, as they feel that helps it get into the bloodstream more quickly.
CBD Oil Soft Gels
An even easier way to ingest CBD oil is in soft gel form. Since there is no …
- Dropper
- Measuring; or
- Potential for spills
… the simplicity makes it perfect to get a preset, regular dose of CBD each time.
Can CBD Gummies Lower Blood Pressure?
Although there is no specific research linking CBD gummies and lower blood pressure, we do know that products containing CBD may help with hypertension.
So there’s no reason why CBD gummies wouldn’t work just as well as the oil.
If you’re going to take CBD, why not enjoy it as a sweet treat? That adds a little fun to your regimen and makes it seem less medicinal.
It’s also a good way to take CBD if you want to be inconspicuous since it just looks like you’re eating candy.
Do CBD Tinctures Lower Blood Pressure?
The only different thing about CBD tinctures is that, instead of being mixed with a carrier oil, they are an alcohol-based extract. So there’s nothing about CBD tinctures to make us think they will affect blood pressure any differently than CBD oils.
Tinctures can be even easier to ingest than oils because they mix well with hot and cold beverages. So instead of feeling like you’re taking a dose of medicine each day, you could simply be enjoying your morning coffee!
Dosage: How Much CBD Is Needed to Lower Blood Pressure?
We know many factors make a difference in individual response times to CBD, but not much is known yet about specific dosages to treat hypertension.
We do know that the healthy male adults in the study we have referenced were given 600 mg of CBD. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that is the right amount for you.
There are different strengths of CBD products, and when people are searching for their perfect dosage for whatever their ailment may be, the advice is usually: slow and low.
It’s better to start with a lower dosage taken once per day, then move up strength and frequency as needed. If your goal is to lower your blood pressure by using CBD, then you will need to monitor yourself frequently to see how your body responds.
Are There Health Risks to Using CBD for Blood Pressure Management?
There are few health risks to using CBD for blood pressure management or whatever other ailment you are using it to treat.
The ones that are reported the most are:
- Diarrhea
- Changes in appetite and weight; and
- Fatigue
CBD is also known to interact with some medications. Specific to this topic, if you are already on medicine to treat your high blood pressure and then take CBD as well, your blood pressure can potentially drop too low.
Overall, these side effects are not serious. So if you want the benefits of using a natural substance to control your hypertension, you may be okay with the trade-offs. Just make sure to monitor the situation carefully and, as always, discuss any changes with your doctor.
Who Should NOT Use CBD as a Blood Pressure Management Tool?
The FDA discourages the use of CBD products by pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Since there hasn’t been enough research done about the effects of CBD on a developing fetus, it just isn’t worth the risk.
However, high blood pressure during pregnancy can be extremely dangerous, so if you find yourself with hypertension while pregnant make sure you are getting some sort of medical treatment.
Also, as we mentioned before, CBD can cause blood pressure to drop too low in people who are also taking medications to control the condition. So it’s probably best to take one or the other — and not both — until you know how it affects you.
Explore the Best CBD Products for Your Blood Pressure Management at Hail Mary Jane
This is an exciting time as we continue to learn more about the benefits of CBD and other cannabis-based products. We know that uncontrolled high blood pressure increases the risk of serious health problems. So also knowing that we may be able to combat it with a natural product like CBD is a game-changer.
At Hail Mary Jane, we are here to recommend all the best cannabis products, from CBD bath bombs to tinctures, oils, and much more.
For over ten years, we’ve been testing every product we can get our hands on with the end goal of sharing our knowledge with you.
So whether you’re dealing with conditions such as …
- High blood pressure
- Chronic pain; or even
- Sleeplessness
… check out our reviews and find the perfect product for your needs, or visit this medical weed dispensary in Tulsa to discover more alternative medicines.
