Does cannabis lower blood pressure?
The available research shows mixed results with a need for further research as smoking cannabis is correlated with increased blood pressure yet specific cannabinoids have been proven to lower blood pressure. Smoking cannabis has been associated with increased blood pressure and a greater risk of dying from heart disease, and other studies have shown specific cannabinoids like CBD to have the ability to lower blood pressure with a single dose. This leads us at Strains Dispensary Perris to recommend practicing caution with your health and cannabis therapies, especially if you have been diagnosed with heart disease or high blood pressure, and to only introduce cannabis smoking into your treatment regimen if approved by a qualified physician.
Smoking Cannabis & Heart Health
Studies have shown an increased risk of smoking cannabis and heart conditions, such as heart disease, and hypertension. Although the studies are inconclusive, Harvard Medical School (2017) continues to recommend that those with heart conditions refrain from smoking cannabis due to the complex effects that cannabinoids have on the cardiovascular system including heart rate and blood pressure.
THC, CBD & Blood Pressure
THC and CBD are both associated with lowering blood pressure. CBD is the infamous non-psychoactive cannabinoid effective at treating a wide range of ailments whereby the patient benefits from an effective cannabinoid but wants to escape the psychoactive high produced by THC. A 2017 study published in The American Society for Clinical Investigation found that a single acute dose of CBD reduced resting blood pressure and lessened the blood pressure response to stress when heart rate increased among healthy participants. THC is associated with increased heart problems at higher doses but remains effective at lower doses. These findings yield implications for the patients at Strains Dispensary Perris as a high-CBD & low-THC product could be best for those with heart conditions.
In Conclusion: More Research Needed
Most of the evidence concerning cannabis and heart health are based on reports from those who smoked cannabis, which makes it difficult to tease out the effects of cannabinoids on the cardiovascular system from the dangers posed by inhaling irritants and carcinogens in the smoke. If you have a preexisting heart condition defined by increased blood pressure, especially those including prescription medications for treating hypertension, please consult with a qualified physician before consuming cannabis alongside prescribed medications.
