Heart disease, including coronary disease, hypertension and stroke, is currently the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. Coronary heart disease alone accounts for one of every seven deaths of all U.S. deaths, more than 360,000 a year. Not only is it extremely deadly, it’s incredibly costly. Estimates put the average annual cost for heart disease in the United States at about $2 billion.
As CBD continues to be explored in numerous medicinal and therapeutic applications, evidence is emerging that indicates it may offer support against heart disease in addition to the multitude of other health conditions it treats. A 2017 study by Sudan University in Shanghai confirmed that CBD may be able to help people suffering from heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions.
How Does CBD Work?
Among other cannabinoids such as THC, CBD interacts with a large body regulator, the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS comprises many receptors throughout the body. CBD and THC interact primarily with two of them: CB1 and CB2.
These receptors can be activated by the body’s naturally occurring cannabinoids or by cannabinoids such as CBD and THC. Unlike THC, however, CBD does not bind directly to the receptors. That is why it is not psychoactive and produces no psychological effects. Instead, CBD simply stimulates the body’s naturally occurring cannabinoids to activate the receptors to do more of what they normally do.
Numerous clinical studies have found that CBD offers a multitude of medicinal benefits, including: [1]
- Antiemetic (reduces nausea and vomiting)
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant
- Antipsychotic
- Anticonvulsant (suppresses seizure activity)
- Anti-tumoral/anti-cancer
- Antidepressant
- Anxiolytic (combats anxiety)
- Analgesic (relieves pain)
How CBD Helps with Heart Disease: CBD’s Effects on the Heart
Research has shown CBD has numerous healing effects on the heart, many of which are supportive of it in fighting disease.
1. CBD Helps Relax the Heart’s Arterial Walls
Research has found that CBD may help relax the walls of heart arteries, and thereby reduce overall tension in blood vessels. In turn, that can protect arteries against inflammation.
In addition, CBD seems to be extremely effective in reducing metabolic issues of increased glucose responses. In many cases, people with heart disease already have a higher risk for these increased responses. CBD is able to do this because it can reduce the overall permeability of arterial walls.
2. CBD has Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties
Inflammation is a huge issue for many heart disease patients. It can lead to severe tissue damage, which occurs when the tissue lacks an adequate supply of blood and oxygen. As mentioned earlier, many studies have shown CBD to have significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They allow it to reduce inflammation effectively and protect the heart against tissue damage. It may even repair existing damage.
Also, research has shown that CBD may stop production of endotoxin, a family of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These cytokines contribute to the progression of heart disease. By inhibiting their production, CBD has the potential of preventing the disease altogether.
→ For more information on how CBD may help reduce inflammation, click here.
3. CBD May Help Reduce Arterial Plaque
Another major contributing factor in development of heart disease is plaque buildup in the arteries. As the plaque builds on arterial walls, the heart has a harder time pumping blood. Research has shown that CBD may be effective in decreasing arterial plaque’s ability to adhere to the walls. This is important because plaque buildup encourages the progression of heart disease. So, by reducing plaque, the disease can be hindered and prevented.
Overall, CBD relaxes arterial walls, reduces inflammation, protects and repairs tissue, and even inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines. Plus, it effectively reduces plaque buildup. The evidence for CBD’s ability to support the heart against disease is impressive.
“Since using the CBD oil, I have received very excellent blood test results and it's only been three months. I have heart disease and chronic stage 3 kidney failure. My whole body is functioning well and better in this short time versus the last decade or longer of health issues. Thank you SOL CBD. You're making a big difference in my health and I'm feeling great again!”
-William S.
Other Cardiovascular Conditions CBD Supports
Evidence suggests CBD may help in treating several other cardiovascular-related conditions, including:
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Stroke
- Cardiac arrest
- Atherosclerosis
- Cardiovascular disease
Conclusion
As you can see, the research for CBD’s link to treating heart disease is thorough, and the evidence compelling. Because CBD is a nutrient, it has the ability to work seamlessly within the body and offer its healing properties, bringing the body back into balance.
Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22625422
2. https://www.projectcbd.org/heart-disease
3. http://cbdcentral.org/cbd-conditions/heart-disease/
4. https://healthmetrics.heart.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Heart-Disease-and-Stroke-Statistics-2017-ucm_491265.pdf
5. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221323171630338X
6. https://farmerslabseeds.com/new-study-indicates-cbd-treat-stroke-heart-disease/
7. https://cbdoilsandedibles.com/cbd-for-heart-disease/
