The Surprising Connection Between CBD, Stress, and Blood Pressure

When we think of stress, it’s important to remember the real, physical impact it has on our bodies. One of the most significant is elevated blood pressure. Cardiovascular disease (CVD)—the leading cause of death both worldwide and in the United States—has a direct connection to chronic stress and high blood pressure (1,2). Could our constant stress be fueling this epidemic? If so, the idea of a natural compound that reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, and protects the cardiovascular system sounds almost too good to be true. Enter CBD (3).

According to JCI Insight, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal focused on biomedical research, chronic stress has a clear relationship with the onset of CVD, including hypertension (3). Even more compelling, their findings suggest that CBD offers protective effects for the cardiovascular system, shielding the heart from stress-related damage (3).

Here’s why this matters: when we’re stressed, our risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction) increases. Stress reduces blood flow to the heart, depriving cardiac tissue of oxygen (ischemia) and leading to cell death (3). But CBD steps in by relaxing blood vessels (vasorelaxation), which lowers blood pressure and improves oxygen delivery to heart tissue (3).

CBD has also been shown to protect coronary artery endothelial cells from damage caused by high blood sugar (3). Chronic stress elevates blood sugar, harming delicate tissues, especially the endothelium—the inner lining of our arteries. Beyond that, CBD reduces harmful inflammatory responses, supports overall cardiovascular health, and even protects the retinal arteries in the eyes from diabetes-related damage (3).

And here’s the kicker: a single dose of CBD has been shown to reduce blood pressure (3). Imagine the long-term benefits of regular use, particularly for someone dealing with chronic stress and hypertension.

One plant. Multiple benefits. A healthier heart. Cheers to that!

Bee Well,

Brandon Farless

*This information is for education purposes only and simply sharing information regarding these studies. No medical advice or claims are being made.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, May 15). Heart disease facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm#:~:text=Heart%20disease%20is%20the%20leading,groups%20in%20the%20United%20States.&text=One%20person%20dies%20every%2033,United%20States%20from%20cardiovascular%20disease.

Satyjeet, F., Naz, S., Kumar, V., Aung, N. H., Bansari, K., Irfan, S., & Rizwan, A. (2020). Psychological Stress as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease: A Case-Control Study. Cureus, 12(10), e10757. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.10757

Jadoon, K. A., Tan, G. D., & O'Sullivan, S. E. (2017). A single dose of cannabidiol reduces blood pressure in healthy volunteers in a randomized crossover study. JCI insight, 2(12), e93760.https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.93760