CBD and heart health
Some research shows that THC, particularly when smoked, can harm the cardiovascular system. Smoking anything has the potential to be damaging to your heart and lungs.
CBD can be smoked, but most often comes in the form of tablets or sublingual tinctures that people use as wellness products.
For the purpose of CBD’s effects on the heart, non-inhaled forms are most commonly studied. This means your hemp joint isn’t going to produce the same effects as CBD edibles or sublingually administered CBD.
A study on CBD in mice demonstrated that when used alone, CBD may have cardioprotective effects. The study showed the potential for CBD to mitigate negative cardiac effects related to diabetes. These same effects may also be beneficial to people living with other cardiovascular conditions. The keyword is “may.”
This isn’t something that has been meaningfully studied in humans, and people have a tendency to use CBD in a way much different from mice. Mice don’t self-administer and are often provided with much more significant concentrations of cannabinoids than people would use, and they’re tested in a highly controlled environment. We need more studies on people before we can draw definitive conclusions about what CBD can and cannot do to promote heart health. Think of the mouse study as a great first step in the right direction, but don’t take it as gospel just yet. We still have more work to do.
We do know that cannabinoids are immunomodulators that can potentially reduce inflammation in humans. Reducing inflammation can improve blood flow, which may theoretically be beneficial for the heart.
This doesn’t mean that CBD is a treatment for heart ailments, but that it may support the body’s ability to heal and respond to medically approved treatments. Keep that in perspective while you’re reviewing the evidence.
CBD’s impact on blood pressure
Carbon dioxide exposure can raise blood pressure. Smoking CBD would involve the inhalation of carbon monoxide, which would undoubtedly have a negative effect. Orally administered CBD is being studied for its ability to induce relaxation, and when the body is relaxed, the blood pressure may naturally lower.
This is only true if an agitated emotional state is what caused the heightened blood pressure. If you feel your blood pressure rise when you become angry, anxious, or upset, but otherwise have a healthy cardiovascular system and normal blood pressure, the best thing you can do is to calm yourself down.
At the moment, few credible studies directly demonstrate that CBD can lower resting blood pressure. “Few” is different from “none.”
One study supports the theory that CBD can lower blood pressure that increases in response to an exterior source of stress. The participants in the study were healthy and did not have any blood pressure conditions.
Removing yourself from a stressful situation and participating in a relaxing activity can help to ease the emotional tension you’re feeling, which will return your body to a calmer state. Some people feel that using CBD as a part of their soothing ritual is beneficial to them. If your doctor doesn’t see a problem with it, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t.