Does Cannabis Affect your heart rate?
At Strains Dispensary Perris, we have to admit: we aren’t doctors but have researched and answered the question – does cannabis affect heart health? Yes, THC has been shown to increase heart rate by up 50 beats per minute but also lowers blood pressure. The increase in heart rate occurs because the THC lowers blood pressure. It is important to know that lower doses of THC are more effective at providing heart benefits; however, the benefits decline with the increase in THC dose.
Cannabinoids & Heart Rate
The cannabinoids, CBD and THC, have been studied for their impact on heart rate. CBD has been shown to reduce resting heart rate among healthy participants; THC has been shown to decrease heart rate at lower doses yet has the affinity to increase heart rate and anxiety at higher doses. These results have implications for cannabis enthusiasts having heart conditions as high-CBD & low-THC products have the best chance at balancing reward and risk. Again, we recommend speaking with your doctor about what cannabis can do for you and your heart rate.
THC Dose & Heart Rate
Since the dose is an important factor when considering how THC impacts heart rate, we do not recommend the elderly or those with heart disease to take higher doses of THC unless under the care of a qualified doctor. We always recommend speaking with your physician about cannabis and your specific heart condition before introducing a new cannabis therapy.
Research is Inconclusive for those with Cardiovascular Disease
With approximately 25% of all American deaths caused by heart disease, our patients are positioned at Strains Dispensary Perris to benefit from the ongoing research on cannabis and cardiovascular health. Those without cardiovascular disease need not worry as cannabis has not been shown to increase their heart risk profile. We found that cannabis has an influence on the cardiovascular system that is quite complicated and further research is necessary to know what specific cannabinoids are effective at treating heart disease and at what dose that the cannabinoids are effective. Those with cardiovascular disease should refrain from smoking cannabis given the proven risks even though additional research needs to be completed to arrive at a consensus.
