High blood pressure
- One of the short-term and long-term effects of cannabis may be lowering blood pressure
- Medical cannabis has absolutely no negative impact on the cardiovascular system in adults, studies show
- The human body regulates blood pressure using the endogenous version of THC - anandamide
- The connection between cannabis intoxication and heart attacks is essentially non-existent
High Blood Pressure
Given that high blood pressure is a very widespread problem that anyone can encounter, the question arises: can medical cannabis help and lower blood pressure? In this case, the answer is very unclear and depends on who you ask or what study you read.
In the Czech Republic, as in most other highly industrialized countries, one-third of the population suffers from hypertension. If left untreated, it can over time cause various cardiovascular diseases, increase the chances of heart attack, and in the worst case, end in heart failure. Additional factors such as neglected physical activity, tobacco smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, or generally poor diet naturally only increase the chances of developing hypertension.
Effect of Medical Cannabis
Some of the effects of cannabis on blood pressure, especially acute ones, are now very well observed and documented. Research on long-term effects and possibly adverse effects is more complicated, primarily due to poor study design and the fact that findings from animal studies are not always completely transferable to humans.
Moreover, many studies are quite generalizing, especially in that they focus only on THC and neglect other very significant cannabinoids. A study that uses a THC-rich strain will naturally have different results than a study that applies cannabis with high CBD content. Another quite frustrating fact is that studies comparing the harmfulness of medical cannabis by application type (e.g., smoking versus cannabis in food or vaporization) have not yet been conducted.
Let's remember that there are still many uncertainties. However, certain things we know for sure.
"A study that uses a THC-rich strain will naturally have different results than a study that applies cannabis with high CBD content."
Long-term vs. Short-term Effects
Does cannabis consumption increase blood pressure? Studies point to the fact that for some consumers, cannabis can slightly increase blood pressure and heart rate shortly after consumption. How much depends on the dose. This effect occurs about 10-15 minutes after consumption, and interestingly, it is followed by hypotension, i.e., a decrease in blood pressure.
Another factor is cannabis tolerance, and more experienced users no longer experience a blood pressure increase after cannabis consumption, but only hypotension. Many users who treat themselves with cannabis use it precisely for this effect, which, by the way, is confirmed by some studies (sources).
The relationship between cannabis and blood pressure is really tricky, and for the acute effect, it even depends on the position in which the user is at the time of consumption. When sitting or lying down, acute consumption increases blood pressure, but if the user stands up, the pressure immediately drops. Be careful about standing up quickly after sitting or lying down - the pressure can drop very quickly, which can result in dizziness and a feeling of fainting!
However, if the effects of cannabis occur while standing, the pressure only drops and there is no temporary hypertension. These findings are not supported by sufficient scientific body. If you, dear readers, have explored the effects of medical cannabis in different positions, don't hesitate to share your scientific insights with us!
"The number of reported heart attacks in connection with cannabis consumption is an absolute rarity across cannabis popularity"
Cannabis, Stroke, and Heart Attack
The answer to whether medical cannabis has serious, adverse, long-term effects on the cardiovascular system is provided by the CARDIA Institute in San Francisco (UC San Francisco longitudinal Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults), in its 15-year study that included 3,617 adults of various races, in which absolutely no connection was found between heart events and cannabis consumption.
With cannabis? We can only wait for further Harvard studies.
Hypertension Treatment with Medical Cannabis
The endocannabinoid system (whose chemicals work on a similar basis to the active substances in cannabis) plays a very significant role in many physiological body processes, including the cardiovascular system. This fact inspires many studies that deal with manipulating this system in connection with blood pressure.
Current studies prove that Anandamide, one of the endogenous cannabinoids, acts as a blood pressure regulator by relaxing blood vessels. Interestingly, anandamide is essentially the endogenous version of THC.
However, you won't find an anti-hypertension medication based on cannabinoids on the market, despite cannabinoids being under the microscope in relation to hypertension since around 1970. The problem is mainly the fact mentioned for example in our article "Can Cannabis Defeat Cancer?", which is simply the lack of human studies that would provide physiologists with sufficient evidence to confidently state "Yes, medical cannabis helps with high blood pressure!"
And you, dear readers, are you struggling with high blood pressure and if so, have you tried medical cannabis? Share with us in the comments for the sake of progress!
Sources used: Medical News Today Heart.org JamesLindlibrary.org Leafly.com NCBI
Header image: Header