CBD For Heart Disease: Does It Help?

CBD For Heart Disease: Does It Help? - Sugar Bottom Hemp

Since 1950, heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States. In fact, one person dies every 36 seconds of cardiovascular disease in the US [1]. Regardless of your risk or family history with heart disease, protecting your heart from disease or treating it correctly if you have been diagnosed is essential to a long life. More people have been turning to CBD for heart disease after hearing it touted as beneficial for many conditions. But does CBD help prevent or treat cardiovascular disease? Should you try it?

Here is everything you need to know about CBD for heart disease, including what research has discovered.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid that is extracted from the buds and leaves of the cannabis sativa plant. Although CBD is related to psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), it does not give you a high. CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, a complex and multifaceted system that is involved with homeostasis. Even today, researchers are figuring out how much influence the ECS has on the human body. However, what they do know is that the endocannabinoid system is also integrated into the cardiovascular system [2].

Interestingly, there is a growing body of scientific research that suggests how dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system may cause various heart-related conditions [3]. Being that cannabidiol interacts with the ECS in a therapeutic manner, researchers are optimistic when it comes to CBD supporting heart health or even possibly preventing heart disease.

Overview of Heart Disease

Heart disease is a term that covers a variety of heart-related conditions [4]. You may also see heart disease referred to as cardiovascular disease, because conditions of the heart often encompass both the heart and the blood vessels connected to it.

The most common form of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD), which is when plaque builds up along the walls of the arteries, slowly cutting off blood supply to your heart. This leads to other heart problems, including chest pain (angina), arrhythmia, heart attacks, and congestive heart failure. There are also diseases that affect the muscle and valves of the heart.

There are numerous risk factors that may lead to heart disease, including high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, alcohol use, obesity, unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, second hand tobacco exposure, and high LDL cholesterol [5]. Environmental factors, health conditions, and even certain medications can exacerbate existing medical problems and negatively impact the heart, as well.

What Does Research Say About CBD For Heart Disease?

Research has proven many times that CBD contains antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties [6]. It is widely accepted that inflammation — caused by a variety of factors — raises the risk of developing heart disease. Hypothetically, if a person reduces inflammation around the heart and adopting healthier lifestyle choices, they may improve the overall health of their heart.

With that in mind, here are some of the ways CBD may play in role in the prevention and treatment of heart disease:

Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of hypertensive heart disease. Controlling hypertension is often the focus of most heart disease treatments.

Research has revealed that CBD may lessen blood pressure spikes. In 2009, a study on rats found that, in stressful situations, CBD lowered spikes in heart rate and blood pressure [7].

Later, in 2017, a small study gave healthy human participants a single dose of CBD and subjected them to a stressful situation [8]. Compared to those individuals who were given a placebo, the CBD-group had lower blood pressure.

More research is certainly needed to determine how useful CBD is for blood pressure, but the current evidence is promising.

High LDL Cholesterol

Lowering your “bad” cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is integral to improving heart health and reducing your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular issues. In 2016, a double-blind, placebo-controlled test using animals found that, after 4 weeks of supplementation, CBD aided in increasing “good” HDL cholesterol while lowering LCL level [9]s. A second animal study from 2020 found that CBD exhibits relaxing properties that work on arterial walls, which may lower blood pressure and cholesterol [10].

This is supported by a study from 2013 that reported how CBD may reduce inflammation in the arteries [11].

Stroke

With heart disease comes the increased risk of a stroke. Should a blood clot block the brain’s supply of blood, you could get an ischemic stroke. When a blood vessel bursts, you get a hemorrhagic stroke.

In 2010, a review of past studies concluded that CBD may benefit stroke patients who had brain damage [12]. Brain-boosting effects from CBD were also observed.

Another 2017 review concluded that using CBD may increase blood flow to the brain during a stroke [13]. However, it is important to note that this review focused mainly on animal studies, making it hard to say if such evidence applies to humans.

Are There Any Side Effects?

CBD is a well-tolerated substance with few risks, but there are a couple of things to keep in mind before you start using cannabidiol. First, be sure to speak with your doctor. Research has found that cannabidiol contains compounds similar to grapefruit enzymes that interfere with certain medications [14].

Secondly, some people have experienced minor stomach upset and drowsiness when using CBD. It is best to use a small amount before increasing your dose to see how cannabidol effects you. Research shows that there is minimal risk of overdose, even up to or exceeding 1,200 mg of CBD per day [15].

Looking For High-Quality CBD?

CBD alone may not solve or even prevent heart problems, but there is plenty of evidence out there to suggest that taking CBD has its benefits. Reducing inflammation and stress can do wonders for your health and your heart. So, if you would like to try CBD for heart disease, there is no reason to wait. Be sure to speak with a medical professional first then start looking for high-quality CBD.

At Sugar Bottom Hemp, we pride ourselves in the purity of our CBD, which is extracted from organic hemp. We have a wide variety of CBD products from topicals to tinctures, so you are bound to find a product that you love. Have questions about CBD or a product? Give in touch with us. Or if you are ready to shop, head on over to our store.

Bibliography

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4. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, August 25). Heart disease. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved January 27, 2023, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353118
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, September 8). Heart disease and stroke. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved January 27, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/heart-disease-stroke.htm
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