Lubna Alashqar
CannaMed Magazine Editorial Team
Some cannabis users may have experienced events due to excessive personal consumption in which their blood pressure tends to decrease. Nowadays, it is known that the consumption of the flowers of this plant can raise or lower blood pressure and this is due to multiple factors; among which are involved the variety of the plant, its cannabinoid content, the method of consumption, and the metabolism of the user.
The blood pressure of a user is closely related to the consumption of cannabis since the endocannabinoid system of the human body that interacts with the molecules of the plant directly participates in pressure regulation. Although the topic is currently a bit controversial, it has been shown that cannabis can indeed help older adults in cases of hypertension.
Hypertension is a chronic disease characterized by a continuous increase in blood pressure levels. Patients can have high blood pressure for years without having any symptoms. Most people with hypertension have no symptoms, while some with high blood pressure have a headache, shortness of breath, or nosebleeds. Some people rank this chronic disease as one of the leading causes of death, but how could cannabis help lower blood pressure?
Among the active compounds that can be obtained from the plant, we find THC that has great therapeutic value and is highly psychoactive and CBD which is considered a powerful anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anxiolytic. Different preclinical studies have been carried out in which results have shown that in rats the CB1 receptor of the endocannabinoid system is directly involved with vasodilation. Also, it has been described that endocannabinoids suppress the sudden contractions of the heart which are frequent in patients suffering from hypertension. Furthermore, researchers have found that in addition to CBD, THC administered to these mammals can significantly lower blood pressure.
A research recently published by the European Journal of Internal Medicine, reports that cannabis can reduce hypertension in older adults, and according to the results with participants older than 60 years after administration of cannabis extracts in the form of oil, by monitoring the arterial pressure and heart rate; after 24 hours a large reduction in blood pressure values was noted. After three hours from ingestion, the lowest point was recorded, and the most significant changes occurred during the night. The researchers of this study report that treatment with cannabis for three months is associated with a reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as in heart rate.
Although it is necessary to continue the research that supports the use of cannabis as a potential treatment for some of the conditions derived from blood pressure disorders, the administration of extracts of this plant can be effective and safe for the treatment and balance of this type of condition in older adults and the most appropriate decision is to consult your doctor to determine the use of this regulatory potential in cases of hypertension.
