Did you know that more than half of people with high blood pressure don’t know it’s an issue for them? And out of those who do, most don’t treat it properly? It’s no surprise then, with the rising popularity of CBD oil and other CBD products, that folks are asking if there’s some help to be had here.

In this article, we’re going to explore the importance of dealing with high blood pressure, why you might have high blood pressure and answer the question about how CBD might help you out.

The Importance of Dealing with High Blood Pressure

Dealing with high blood pressure will help you out in a lot of ways and save you from developing worse conditions later down the line. 

High blood pressure is the most common preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This includes nasty conditions like coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke. 

Doing something about your high blood pressure could also lower your chances of kidney disease and cognitive impairment. That last one is when people have trouble remembering, learning new things, concentrating or making decisions that affect their everyday life. Pretty important stuff if you ask us. 

If you get a handle on high blood pressure now, your heart and arteries will thank you for it later. That rings truer the older you get because according to a study of people 50 years in age, lower blood pressure was associated with increased lifespans.  

Living longer with a higher quality of life sounds great, doesn’t it?

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Causes of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, also known in medical terms as hypertension, is generally caused by lifestyle choices, underlying conditions or a mix of the two. It’s important to understand these points to get a better idea of how CBD might help you with your high blood pressure.

According to research published in the American Journal of Hypertension, leading lifestyle-related issues contributing to high blood pressure include:

• Stress, especially job strain
• Too much salt
• Drinking too much alcohol and/or caffeine
• Smoking 
• Not getting enough exercise

Also, in about one in 20 cases, high blood pressure results from an existing health condition. These can include:

• Kidney disease, prolonged kidney infections and other kidney-related issues
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Hormone problems, including underactive/overactive thyroid
• Diabetes, lupus and scleroderma
• Obesity or being overweight

CBD and Blood Pressure

So, what is CBD and how might it help you with high blood pressure?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a special molecule called a cannabinoid that is extracted from hemp plants. It’s one of many cannabinoids and gets a lot of attention for its ability to interact with your endocannabinoid system (ECS), resulting in some positive effects. 

The ECS is special because it can affect your health in many ways, including:

• Immune function
• Memory
• Appetite
• Weight
• Anxiety/Stress
• Inflammation

CBD works in your body by attaching itself to Cannabinoid receptors found throughout the body, which influence ECS. This bonding creates what might best be called a chat or conversation between the CBD you take and your ECS. The results? Well, they vary for different folks, but in general are relatively positive.

This is especially true when it comes to controllable risk factors related to high blood pressure.

As we’ve already mentioned, one of the leading contributing factors to high blood pressure is stress. Doing what you can to reduce stress and anxiety levels will have a positive impact on lowering your blood pressure. 

According to one study from the academic journal Neurotherapeutics, there’s evidence that CBD has strong potential to treat different anxiety disorders. Another study found similar results and recommended further clinical trials to explore this. 

Related to stress, and also the other underlying conditions we mentioned, is the issue of inflammation. Inflammation is when your immune system decides harmful things that have entered your body or injuries you have suffered need to be dealt with. 

With 75 percent to 90 percent of human diseases related to activation of the stress system, it’s definitely something to notice. The good news is that because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, CBD may prove helpful in this area as well.

It’s true that a small clinical trial on male volunteers that studied the direct effects of CBD on blood pressure had positive results. Until more research is done, we can’t be sure, but it’s certainly exciting to follow these kinds of developments in the world of cannabinoids as more continues to unfold.

Find the Perfect CBD Capsules for You

How to Buy and Use CBD

Buying CBD online from a trusted company is going to be your best bet. It’s discreet, simple and gives you access to companies across the country. Start by checking out their third-party lab results to make sure they’re trustworthy and selling a quality product. Then, peruse the shop for the right products for you.

When it comes to using CBD regularly, loads of people choose CBD tinctures. Super easy to take, you just squirt the recommended serving size under your tongue, wait 15 seconds and then swallow. Each bottle will have directions on it to guide you along.

Other popular and convenient options are CBD softgels and capsules. These are a bit more portable and can be quickly taken with a mouthful of water anywhere, anytime. Though if you’re the type of superhuman who can swallow a capsule without any liquids, we salute you!

If you’re unsure about how much CBD you should be taking, we’ve got you covered. Check out our dosing guide for more info. But when in doubt, start low and gradually increase your serving size, paying attention to how you feel along the way.