A recent study conducted in the United Kingdom has revealed that the administration of CBD (cannabidiol) has a clear-cut effect when it comes to reducing systolic blood pressure. Systolic pressure is the pressure that is felt in the blood vessels when the heart beats. This positive influence of CBD suggests that the chemical constituent can be utilized when treating various cardiovascular disorders.
Researchers working at the University of Nottingham revealed their findings in a publication in JCI Insight and measured the effect of an oral dosage of 600mg of cannabidiol set against placebos in nine male adults who were certified healthy. Each of these subjects’ cardiovascular parameters (i.e., heart rate, blood pressure, skin blood blow, stroke volume, etc.) was monitored closely by the researchers when they were free from anxiety or worry. Then the participants were made to undergo various levels of stress tests via physical activities, and their cardiovascular parameters were once again measured.
It was observed that the intake of cannabidiol (CBD) was associated with a reduction in the blood pressure levels of the subjects (– 6mmHg; P<0.05) and stroke volume (– 8ml; P<0.05) while they were at rest. Although the heart rates of the subjects significantly increased when CBD was administered to them, there was no record of any undesirable reactions by the participants before and after the evaluation.
Authors released the following statement: “Our data show that a single dose of CBD reduces resting blood pressure as well as the blood pressure response to stress, particularly cold stress, and especially in the post-test periods. This may reflect the analgesic and anxiolytic effects of CBD, as well as any potential direct cardiovascular effects. Additional research is also necessary to verify whether CBD has any role in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension.”
The study also showed that cannabidiol significantly reduced stroke volume and increased the rate of heartbeats by seven beats per minute averagely, though there was no perceptible decrease in cardiac productivity. Cannabis has been a subject of study for several years due to its cardiac benefits. Back in 2013, it was disclosed that CBD could be used as an agent that widens blood vessels (i.e., a vasodilator), thus suggesting that cannabidiol can make allowances for better flow of blood to regularize blood pressure so that injury to arterial walls can be reduced.
CBD also has the innate characteristics that facilitate the prevention of stroke and cardiovascular disease as well as the reduction of the size of infarcts and inflammation. Cannabidiol is also very useful in preserving the enduring ventricle on the heels of a heart attack.
This is a very remarkable discovery because this implies that CBD can be employed as a non-addictive, non-psychoactive and an all-natural prescription for treating any cardiovascular-related disorders. Cannabidiol is an exceedingly beneficial compound or constituent of cannabis which is derived from the stalks and seed of the hemp plant.
Approximately 76 million adults residing in the United States suffer from high blood pressure, hypertension, and other related cardiac disorders, thus implying that almost 33 percent of the populace is at a high risk of stroke and heart disease. The possibility of using CBD to reduce or prevent these life-threatening disorders looks encouraging. Therefore, further research is needed to establish how effective cannabidiol can be in the treatment of cardiovascular ailments.
Study: https://insight.jci.org/articles/view/93760 and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5470879/