Cannabidiol or CBD is the primary cannabinoid that is found in the cannabis plant. Like tetrahydrocannabinol, well-known as a cannabinoid, CBD is non-psychoactive.
This means it rarely makes you feel 'high.'
Generally, we have the cardiovascular system to thank for initiating the heartbeat that transports oxygenated blood throughout the body. As if this is not enough, the pulse helps in transportation of hormones, nutrients and to regulate body temperatures.
Additionally, the cardiovascular system helps in regulating body fluids, distributing the white blood cells, antibodies, and protein complements. As you can see, keeping the cardiovascular system functioning, is very vital for the health of our body.
To keep our cardiovascular system working well, we need to eat healthily and engage in a workout. But how about using CBD?
What impact change can we bring into our heart rate? Well, let us look into this deeply.
How CBD Oil affects the heart rate?
The evidence of linking CBD with a direct effect on the heartbeat is yet to be documented. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol which has a direct impact on heart rate, CBD is different.
The effects of tetrahydrocannabinol include heart rate alteration and blood pressure. According to Brook Henry, who is an assistant researcher at the University of California, the phytochemicals in the tetrahydrocannabinol directly increase heart rate.
The effect is due to the THC activating more endocannabinoid receptors in the system of cardiovascular than the CBD.
What is the link between CBD oil and heart rate?
The CBD anti-inflammatory and the ant-oxidative properties can reduce risks factors which are generally known to cause heart disease and likely-hood of high blood pressure. Additionally, it may reduce risks that are related to conditions such as stroke.
High blood pressure
Generally, increased blood pressure is termed as the leading risk factor for increased cases of hypertensive heart disease. Stress is known to cause or raise levels of blood pressure although some research indicates that a dose of CBD can lessen that spike.
In a study conducted in 2009, rats were subjected to stress. Their blood pressure was noted to have shifted significantly high, which also increased the rate of a heart attack.
After a dose of CBD was administered to them, the heart rate and blood pressure lowered instantly.
In another case study conducted in 2017, healthy humans who were under pressure and stress were given a dose of CBD. After some few minutes, the heart rate and blood pressure were noted to go down more significantly compared to those who had been given placebo.
With this in mind, more research, therefore, needs to be done to give clear insight and relation between CBD and how heart rate is lowered.
However, in 25 review cases done in 2017, there is no evidence to show that CBD offers similar results under non-stressful conditions. It is therefore advisable you talk with your doctor first before using CBD for high blood pressure.
Stroke
A disease of the heart can cause or increase the risk of stroke. Most ischemic strokes occur when a blood clot happens in the brain hence blocking the flow of blood to the brain.
When a blood vessel is blocked, the heart rate increases as the blood is forced to go through the vessel. These actions can result in rapturing and hence, hemorrhage.
A review which was done in 2010 indicated that CBD could help protect patients suffering from stroke and reduce the risk of brain damage. Additionally, CBD can help in brain recovery and boost functionality.
But how does this happen? Well, it all has to with CBD lowering the heart rate and blood pressure in the body.
In another review established in 2017, it was found that CBD can increase blood flow along the cerebral area. This experiment, however, was more focused on animals and not humans.
Further research needs to be done to expand these findings.
CBD Oil and the inflammatory effects
The only way CBD oil directly benefits the heart and heart rate is through anti-inflammatory effects.
Inflammation of the heart muscles results in several problems. Since such an infection has made its way into the heart, the body immune system draws out the mechanism to fight it out.
An autoimmune disease can turn the immune system against the heart hence more health complications.
In research conducted in 2016, it showed that CBD could reduce autoimmune myocarditis. It does this by decreasing the cells that cause inflammatory and necrosis.
CBD also inhibits some specific immune responses on the entire body.
CBD also was found in the same study to reduce oxidative stress that has a direct relation to inflammation.
Does CBD Oil have side effects?
Since we have found out CBD oil has a significant advantage into lowering increased heart rate, it is also good to find out if the same oil has adverse effects. Read on for more.
Mostly, for CBD starters, it's essential to start on a small amount and progress with time. In the real sense, we are all differently made, and the effect of CBD will be different on each and every one of us.
High CBD oil can result in stomach upset or a feeling of tiredness. This feeling, however, usually happens on people using CBD for the first time.
If you have been using marijuana before, you might not experience this feeling since your body is already used to CBD content.
The other side effect you might experience changes in patterns of appetite, diarrhea, and putting up too much body weight with time. Even though to some people this is an advantage, it might easily result in obesity.
Conclusion
Although CBD oil has been found to have several benefits on heart rate, more research needs to be done to offer scientific proof to these findings.