Medical cannabis use may lower blood pressure in people over the age of 60, a new landmark study has found. The findings were part of an experiment which tested the effects of medical cannabis in older people with hypertension (high blood pressure).
The research was recently published in the European Journal of Internal Medicine.
High blood pressure is a very common issue that can become a potentially life-threatening condition if not treated in a timely and appropriate manner by professionals. It is extremely dangerous because it doesn’t really have any visible symptoms.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the most common chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, the plant’s psychoactive compound that causes the high feeling often associated with cannabis use, CBD is not a psychoactive substance.
The compound is a naturally occurring chemical known for its potential health and wellness benefits. This potential has led to flourishing wellness-focused products and increased medical research around the world.
Among its reported benefits is its ability to reduce feelings of anxiety and depression, anti-inflammatory properties, and the ability to ease the symptoms of spasticity-related conditions and diseases.
In addition, it appears that CBD may have numerous cardiovascular benefits.
In 2017, researchers conducted an assessment to determine whether accurate CBD administration could lower blood pressure in healthy individuals.
The results showed without a doubt that even “a single dose of cannabidiol (CBD)” assisted in levelling the person’s blood pressure. These findings suggest that the cannabinoid may have some potential in helping to prevent dangerous increases in heart rate.
More recently, a study concluded at the Israeli Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) – a three-month medical cannabis treatment among a group of older people – presented findings that CBD use was associated with a reduction in blood pressure.
According to the findings, after three months, the so-called 24-hours systolic and diastolic blood pressures were reduced by 5.0 mmHg and 4.5 mmHg, respectively.
Eureka Alert quotes one of the authors, Dr Ran Abuhasira from BGU Faculty of Health Sciences, one of Israel’s leading medical faculties: “Older adults are the fastest-growing group of medical cannabis users, yet evidence on cardiovascular safety for this population is scarce.
“This study is part of our ongoing effort to provide clinical research on the actual physiological effects of cannabis over time.”
As it is always emphasised, further research is required in medical cannabis and its potential health benefits.
However, these recent findings, indicating that medical cannabis may actually have a positive impact on older people with existing health issues, could be of great importance for future research into the drug’s impact on our health.
