High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
In addition to a healthy diet and exercise, some natural remedies may be helpful in reducing blood pressure naturally. There’s growing evidence that CBD may reduce stress, anxiety, and inflammation – three underlying causes of hypertension.
Read on to learn more about high blood pressure and how CBD may help lower blood pressure naturally.
What is Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is a measure of the force of blood flowing through your arteries. It’s measured in two ways – systolic and diastolic. Systolic blood pressure is when your heart is contracts and blood is pushed out. Diastolic blood pressure is when your heart is at rest and blood is flowing back towards your heart.
Normal blood pressure is between 90/60 (systolic pressure/diastolic pressure) and 120/80. If your blood pressure is consistently measuring above this range, it’s considered high blood pressure or hypertension (in most cases).
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and aneurysms. According to the American Heart Association, it’s estimated that half of all American adults have high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is one of the most common chronic conditions in the United States, especially in people over the age of 40.
What contributes to high blood pressure?
There are many possible lifestyle & genetic factors that can contribute to high blood pressure, such as:
- A diet high in sodium and fat
- Age
- Being overweight
- Sedentary lifestyles
- Family history
- Chronic health conditions such as kidney disease or diabetes
- Tobacco or alcohol use
- Stress
How to lower Blood Pressure Naturally?
If your hypertension is due to lifestyle factors, there are some changes that you can make to help manage your blood pressure:
- Reduce stress – reduce stress by meditating, journaling, spending time in nature, exercising, or by taking CBD, a stress-reducing cannabinoid. If you think your stress may be caused primarily by your work, check out our guide on how to better wind down after work.
- Prioritize sleep – aim for at least 7-8 hours per night
- Eat a healthy diet – Eat lots of whole, unprocessed foods like fruits and veggies, nuts, etc. Avoid processed foods with added sugar and sodium
- Exercise regularly – Exercise works best as a natural blood pressure reducer when done regularly. Swimming, jogging, walking, or yoga are great, gentle exercises for lowering blood pressure
- Limit your alcohol and tobacco intake
What is CBD
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of the many cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, the most well-known cannabinoid, CBD does not have any intoxicating properties. CBD is well known for its calming and anti-inflammatory properties. For more information, click here.
How CBD may lower blood pressure
CBD is not a panacea, and taking CBD gummies will not make high blood pressure go away. But, there are a few ways in which CBD may help manage blood pressure levels:
- Studies have shown that even a single dose of CBD can help to reduce stress and anxiety, which in turn may help lower blood pressure.
- Studies also suggest that CBD may also dilate the blood vessels, improving blood flow, which can be a factor in high blood pressure.
- CBD has also been shown to reduce inflammation in the body, including in the arteries, which may also play a role in lowering blood pressure.
Side Effects of CBD: What Should I Be Worried About?
CBD is generally considered safe, and does not have any serious, known side effects. The most common side effects from taking CBD are: diarrhea, nausea, and fatigue. These side effects can be remedied by adjusting your dose, or by no longer taking CBD.
If you are using prescription drugs, it is important to keep in mind that CBD may interact with your medications. This isn’t totally out of the ordinary – some medications interact with compounds as natural as grapefruit juice. If you are taking prescription medications, do not start a CBD regimen without consulting your healthcare provider.
In general, you should be under the care of a medical professional when treating high blood pressure with CBD. If you have high blood pressure that is caused by other conditions, such as kidney disease or diabetes, taking CBD may not help.
The bottom line: CBD and Blood Pressure
In summary, consuming CBD as part of your wellness routine can help lower blood pressure. However, it should not be used as the only treatment for hypertension, and it should not be used without consulting your healthcare professional.
If you are interested in incorporating CBD products into your wellness routine, try our EASE gummies. Each gummy contains 50mg of CBD, and zero THC, to give you the positive benefits of CBD without any of the intoxicating side effects typically associated with cannabis products.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Please consult your health care professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product. This statement is required by the FDA.