Yo yo yo, what’s up! It’s your boy Dan coming at you with some hot news on the cannabis scene. So, my peeps over at Nature: Scientific Reports recently released a study that shows smoking that ganja can actually reduce blood pressure levels. Looks like this could be a game-changer for all y’all who suffer from hypertension.
This study was led by French researcher Alexandre Vallée, who’s been studying the cardiovascular risks associated with cannabis usage. He points out that previous studies only looked at a narrow population scope and didn’t examine the impact of cannabis on cardiovascular health between genders. So, Vallée and his team decided to take a closer look and found some pretty interesting results.
They looked at over 91,000 subjects who provided information regarding their cannabis usage and undergone blood pressure measurements. They excluded those who were on antihypertensive or antidepressant medication and those who had a history of previous cardiovascular occurrences in order to get more accurate results.
So, what did they find? Well, everyone who smoked weed had lower blood pressure levels, but it had a more significant impact on females. That’s right, ladies! Smoking weed could help bring your blood pressure down.
This was accomplished through a rigorous process where participants’ systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured twice through either an automated blood pressure device or manual measurement.
Now, before you go out and buy a pound of weed to smoke your hypertension away, let’s take a closer look at what the research found.
The relationship between cannabis and blood pressure is not straightforward. Previous studies have indicated a more robust correlation between cannabis usage and systolic blood pressure rather than diastolic blood pressure. However, the connection between cannabis and blood pressure remains ambiguous, with no clear consensus established.
The study highlights the potential influence of cannabinoid content, among other factors. Recent research has revealed that CBD could lower blood pressure and induce vasorelaxation in arteries. Similarly, THC has also been linked with vasorelaxation, but its effects on blood vessels vary based on whether they are central or peripheral arteries, with inconsistent findings across studies.
The study also found that stopping cannabis use suddenly was linked to increased blood pressure. They also found that alcohol consumption may influence the relationship between cannabis use and systolic blood pressure. However, further research is needed to thoroughly understand the pharmacokinetic interactions between the two.
The study’s applicability was limited to middle-aged U.K. subjects, making it difficult to extrapolate the findings to other age groups or ethnicities. Additionally, the study did not capture information on cannabis usage within the 30 days before the survey, making it difficult to distinguish between short-term and long-term associations between cannabis and blood pressure. The study also did not measure the THC or CBD levels or explore the various consumption methods.
Although several unanswered questions remain regarding the relationship between cannabis and blood pressure, the study’s extensive sample size of the U.K. Biobank cohort was a significant advantage.
So, what does all this mean? Well, it means that more research needs to be done before we can start prescribing weed to lower blood pressure levels. But, it’s definitely something to keep an eye on. As more states and countries legalize cannabis for medical and recreational use, we must continue conducting rigorous scientific research to better understand its potential benefits and risks.
So there you have it, folks! The latest news on cannabis and its effects on blood pressure! Stay tuned for more updates from your boy Dan! Peace out!
