CBD has certainly been getting a lot of buzz, showing up in a variety of products like oils, gummies, salve, and lotions. It’s often touted as a substance that can have a positive effect on conditions, such as anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, and various diseases. But, did you know that researchers are studying CBD for cardiovascular dysfunction?
While CBD makes its way into households as a cure-all, you might be wondering if it could help you. Should you try it if your goal is to treat or prevent heart disease? Read on to find out what the research says.
Cardiovascular Dysfunction
Cardiovascular dysfunction, in simple terms, is heart disease; or in other words, cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD encompasses numerous problems, several of which are associated to a process called atherosclerosis.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States with over 640,00 deaths per year.
What is Atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is a disease in which plaque builds up inside the arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to your heart, as well as other parts of your body.
Plaque is made up of cholesterol, fat, calcium, and other elements found in the bloodstream. Over time, plaque will develop on areas of the arteries. It basically hardens and narrows your arteries, ultimately leading to a limited flow of oxygen-rich blood to your organs. If a blood clot forms, it can block overall blood flow, which often causes a heart attack or stroke.
What is Arhythmia?
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute defines arrhythmia as a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. It’s generally caused by changes in heart tissue or in the electrical signals that control your heartbeat. The electrical impulses (heartbeat) may happen too fast, too slow, or too erratically. When the heart doesn’t beat properly, it can’t pump blood effectively.
According to the American Heart Association, when the heart doesn’t pump blood efficiently, the lungs, brain, and all other organs can’t function properly. This may cause multiple organ failure or organs to become damaged.
What is CBD for Cardiovascular Dysfunction?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical found in the cannabis plant. Hemp and marijuana are strains of the cannabis plant. According to The National Library of Medicine, there are over 80 chemicals, known as cannabinoids, that have been identified in the cannabis plant.
Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the key active ingredient in marijuana, CBD is not psychoactive. “CBD is the non-psychoactive portion of the plant, so what that means is, you won’t have any effects like euphoria. You won’t feel sedated or altered in any way.” says Junella Chin, DO, an osteopathic physician and a medical cannabis expert for cannabisMD.
Cardiovascular Health
It’s common knowledge that proper diet, regular exercise, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol, are certainly the best ways to keep your heart healthy. However, our hearts are delicate; there are a number of diseases and medications that can ultimately affect them, regardless of a healthy lifestyle. Consequently, researchers are interested in studying CBD for Cardiovascular Dysfunction.
Without testing for high blood pressure or high cholesterol, you probably won’t know whether you have these conditions. Regular screening can tell you what your numbers are and whether you need to seek medical attention.
Overall, you don’t have to have a health condition or be sick to use CBD. CBD may work well as a preventative medicine. There are certainly many ways to use CBD with the most common being capsules and CBD oils. These are undoubtedly good options, since both are accessible and easy to use.
CBD for Cardiovascular Dysfunction Prevention?
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Indeed, learning about your heart and how to properly take care of it is beneficial to the longevity of life. However, there are various types of cardiovascular disease and each can have various causes; it’s important to know the differences.
A 2010 review found that CBD may help guard stroke patients from brain damage, as well as aid in the recovery process by enhancing brain function.
The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology has recorded evidence that CBD for cardiovascular dysfunction is beneficial for at-risk people. It also indicates that CBD has direct actions on isolated arteries, causing both acute and time-dependent vasorelaxation. Vasorelaxation is the reduction of vascular tension.
Anti-Inflammatory Capabilities of CBD
Another benefit that CBD provides is anti-inflammatory elements. This can be significantly advantageous for your heart’s muscle. Our hearts have a muscle called the myocardium. This muscle is generally responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. If the myocardium becomes inflamed, it’s called myocarditis. Myocarditis markedly leads to irregular blood pumping, which can have detrimental effects on your health.
A recent animal study exhibited substantial beneficial effects of CBD on alleviating autoimmune myocarditis. Researchers indeed proved it effective in improving myocardial dysfunction, primarily through its anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects.
CBD Lowers Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is connected to higher risks of suffering from several health conditions, such as heart attack, stroke, and metabolic syndrome (a cluster of conditions that occur together).
According to research published in JCI insight (The American Society for Clinical Investigation), a study conducted in 2017 on nine healthy humans revealed that a single dose of CBD had the capability to produce a reduction in increased blood pressure secondary to stress. It has been documented to work following an event in which an individual faces an immense amount of stress.
Researchers have suggested that it’s the stress and anxiety reducing properties of CBD that are responsible for its ability to aid in lowering blood pressure. In light of these findings, CBD is being explored for a variety of mental health ailments. Furthermore, there were no adverse side effects due to the use of CBD.
Conclusion
Although research into CBD and heart disease shows promise, researchers need to conduct additional studies before scientists and medical professionals can clearly understand its benefits.
Finally, CBD isn’t a cure for heart disease. If you’re considering trying CBD for cardiovascular dysfunction in general or preventative purposes, talk to a medical professional first. Discuss a dosage that’s healthy for your specific symptoms and conditions.
Resources
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“Arrhythmia.” National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/arrhythmia.
“Atherosclerosis.” National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 13 Nov. 2018, www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/atherosclerosis.
“Cannabidiol (CBD): MedlinePlus Supplements.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 9 Dec. 2019, medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/1439.html.
“Cardiovascular (Heart) Diseases: Types and Treatments.” WebMD, WebMD, 14 Oct. 2019, www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/diseases-cardiovascular#1.
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Felton, Kathleen. “Every Question You Have About CBD-Answered.” Health.com, 14 Feb. 2019, www.health.com/condition/pain/what-is-cbd.
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Hayakawa, K.; Mishima, K.; Fujiwara, M. Therapeutic Potential of Non-Psychotropic Cannabidiol in Ischemic Stroke. Pharmaceuticals 2010, 3, 2197-2212.
Jadoon, Khalid A, et al. “A Single Dose of Cannabidiol Reduces Blood Pressure in Healthy Volunteers in a Randomized Crossover Study.” JCI Insight, American Society for Clinical Investigation, 15 June 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5470879/#__ffn_sectitle.
“Myocarditis.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 16 Mar. 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/myocarditis/symptoms-causes/syc-20352539.
Rajesh, Mohanraj, et al. “Cannabidiol Attenuates Cardiac Dysfunction, Oxidative Stress, Fibrosis, and Inflammatory and Cell Death Signaling Pathways in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy.” Journal of the American College of Cardiology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 14 Dec. 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3026637/.
Stanley, Christopher P, et al. “Is the Cardiovascular System a Therapeutic Target for Cannabidiol?” British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Blackwell Science Inc, Feb. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3579247/.
“Vasorelaxation.” The Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/vasorelaxation. Accessed 11 January 2020.