Which Cannabis Strains Help Lower Your Blood Pressure? New Study Identifies Specific Cannabinoids That May Help!

Specific cannabinoids help lower blood pressure, studies say

Hypertension is one of the most common diseases affecting older adults worldwide.

Also known as high blood pressure, experts say about half of the American population suffers from the condition. But many don’t even know they have it – that’s why it’s also called the silent killer. Left untreated, this can lead to strokes, heart attacks, and other health problems. Adults with high blood pressure need to take medication to keep it down and make serious lifestyle changes.

However, compounds in cannabis can help you lead a healthier lifestyle and lower high blood pressure.

Tetrahydrocannabinol

A 2021 study from Ben Gurion University (BGU) of the Negev in Israel and its affiliate, Soroka University Medical Center, attempted to analyze the effects of THC on older adults with hypertension. They looked at participants aged 60 and older who already had a diagnosis, and they were then given cannabis. Patients were monitored with 24-hour sphygmomanometers. They were also asked to undergo blood tests, EKGs and body measurements before and after treatment with cannabis.

“Older adults are the fastest growing group of medical cannabis users, but evidence of cardiovascular safety for this demographic is scarce,” says Dr. Ran Abuhasira. “This study is part of our ongoing effort to provide clinical research on the actual physiological effects of cannabis over time.”

After being medicated with THC, the researchers noticed a significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure values ​​within 24 hours. The most significant results were found three hours after ingesting cannabis either through smoking or oil extracts, particularly at night.

“Cannabis research is in its infancy and BGU is at the forefront of evaluating clinical use based on scientific studies,” said Doug Seserman, chief executive officer of American Associates at Ben-Gurion University. “This new study is one of several recently published by the BGU on the medical benefits of cannabis,” he adds.

THC has been shown to temporarily increase blood pressure even in healthy individuals, so scientists are still unsure what causes some people to temporarily increase while others maintain healthy blood pressure.

For example, in 2021 researchers from Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine analyzed the association between cardiovascular disease and cannabis use in nearly 57,000 adults. They were adjusted for confounders such as alcohol consumption, tobacco consumption and body mass index. The researchers also found no independent association between cardiovascular disease and cannabis use.

“After controlling for several confounding variables, we found that the prevalence of cardiovascular events with marijuana use decreased,” they wrote. “Our study found that there is no association between marijuana use and an increase in cardiovascular disease. In addition, there may be an association between marijuana use and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease,” the authors concluded.

cannabigerol

Cannabigerol (CBG), for example, has shown promise. A new study conducted by researchers at Penn State College of Medicine and published in Frontiers in Psychology found that CBG significantly lowers blood pressure. Researchers analyzed mouse models injected with either saline or CBG. “Acute CBG administration elicits a significant reduction in blood pressure in phenotypically normal male mice without altering heart rate or locomotor activity,” they wrote.

“The present study provides new mechanistic insights into the cardiovascular effects of CBG in the context of normal blood pressure,” they concluded. “Taken together, these results add to the growing literature on the role of cannabinoids in blood pressure regulation. Additional research on CBG is needed to define the precise molecular mechanisms and sites of action, the implications of more chronic administration, and the potential for therapeutic application to lower blood pressure in models of hypertension.”

In a 2019 Yahoo article, they interviewed Dr. Matthew L. Mintz, MD, FACP, a primary care physician and internist at Bethesda. “Animal studies have shown that CBG stimulates receptors involved in pain and heat sensations, and may also stimulate α2-adrenergic receptors in the brain and blood vessels involved in blood pressure regulation,” he told Yahoo. “Hence, CBG may play a role in blood pressure regulation and pain. CBG may also have some anti-inflammatory properties,” he adds.

cannabidiol

Several studies have documented the potential benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) for lowering blood pressure.

In a 2017 study conducted by researchers at the University of Nottingham, 9 healthy male subjects were analyzed after receiving a single dose of either 600mg of CBD orally or a placebo. They found that this dose was effective in reducing resting systolic blood pressure and stroke volume. “Our data show that a single dose of CBD lowers resting blood pressure and blood pressure response to stress, particularly cold stress, and particularly in the post-test periods. This may reflect the anxiolytic and analgesic effects of CBD, as well as possible direct cardiovascular effects,” the authors report.

Earlier this year, Lexaria Bioscience commissioned a study to determine the effectiveness of DehydraTECH-CBD, a cannabis-based treatment they were developing to treat pulmonary hypertension. They found that it was effective in reducing pulmonary artery pressure in healthy participants who were found to have low oxygen levels, leading to symptoms of pulmonary hypertension. In particular, they found that symptoms in male subjects decreased by 41% overall, showing that there are differences in gender responses to drug effectiveness.

Conclusion

If you have high blood pressure but are interested in treatment with cannabis, be sure to consult your doctor. They may be able to prescribe cannabinoid-based medications that can help you instead of treating yourself.

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