How to Get Away from Blood Pressures This Spring
According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly half (45%) of all adults in the United States have the condition known as hypertension or high blood pressure. Only about 1 in 4 adults with hypertension have the condition under control. High blood pressure was a primary or contributing cause of death for more than 472,000 people in the United States in the year 2017.
What Is Considered High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure rises and falls naturally throughout the day. It can also change with gaining or losing weight. However, if a person’s blood pressure remains high over three separate days, they may be considered to have hypertension.
- Normal Blood Pressure: 120/80
- Prehypertension: 121-139/80-89
- High Blood Pressure: 140/90
What Are Some Treatments for High Blood Pressure?
If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, one of the first things your doctor might recommend is losing some weight, particularly if you are overweight or obese. Another thing that you might do is to reduce your sodium intake and cut out caffeine. You might also want to exercise regularly. There are some other treatments, such as medication prescribed by your doctor. Cannabis, such as that obtained at a dispensary like The Amsterdam may help, but more on that in just a bit.
What is Seasonal High Blood Pressure?
For those with borderline or even high blood pressure, they may notice that their blood pressure changes with the seasons. Specifically, blood pressure may seem to rise in the winter and return to lower levels during the winter, according to a study that analyzed the health records of 443,632 veterans with high blood pressure. The veterans were treated at 15 VA hospitals over a 5-year period.
The study found that there was an 8% less likely chance that blood pressure would return to normal over the winter than during the summer. Because the change was noted in all cities, it did not seem to be related to the outside temperature.
There are currently a few theories on why blood pressure rises in the winter. One theory is that people tend to put on weight during the winter and lose weight in the summer. Another is that people tend to exercise less during the winter and become more active during the summer.
Cannabis for High Blood Pressure
With so many states legalizing cannabis for either medical or recreational use, many people are seeing the health benefits of the plant. Many people are also asking if cannabis may help to decrease high blood pressure. There are studies that say that cannabis can help with blood pressure.
It has long been established that the endocannabinoid system has a primary role in regulating many of the body’s physiological functions, including cardiovascular function. In fact, the body regularly produces a form of THC called anandamide. Anandamide helps to relax blood vessels.
When it comes to the effects of cannabis on blood pressure, we have plenty of anecdotal evidence as well as a handful of studies that indicate that cannabis may be helpful for lowering blood pressure. Studies suggest that shortly after consuming cannabis, users experience a mild to moderate dose-dependent rise in both heart rate and blood pressure. A modest hypotensive effect follows.
Over a few weeks, users can develop a tolerance to the initial effects that raise pulse and blood pressure. Repeated use has been associated with lowered heart rate and blood pressure. Research studies also suggest that cannabis use may help to maintain healthy blood pressure levels.
For those who are concerned with the psychoactive effects of cannabis, simply taking a CBD oil supplement or vaping a CBD concentrate may help. CBD does not give users the “high” that THC does. When it comes to blood pressure, a study gave nine healthy men 600mg of CBD oil. The dose reduced blood pressure compared to a placebo.
The study also tested the men with the stress that would normally increase blood pressure. In the men who took the CBD, their blood pressure increased less than those who took the placebo. The stress and anxiety-reducing effects of CBD may also be beneficial when it comes to lowering blood pressure.
While millions of Americans deal with high blood pressure, there are ways to fight it. Begin by losing some weight, decreasing the amount of caffeine and sodium in your diet, and getting more exercise. If your doctor prescribes a blood pressure medication, take it. If your doctor is cannabis-friendly, talk to him or her about the benefits of cannabis in lowering blood pressure. Always get your doctor’s okay before beginning any holistic treatment, including cannabis.
If you do decide to use cannabis or CBD oil as a treatment, be sure to get it from a reputable dispensary or another reliable source.
Joseph Collins
Joseph is a content writer for almost 5 years in TheAmsterdam. He is a Vaporizer and Marijuana fanatic and knows everything from growing to vaping. He reviews Vaporizers, marijuana seeds, growing supplies, CBD products and writing scientific articles about marijuana and vaping.