In 2019, one third of worldwide deaths were caused by heart disease and stroke, and over the last 30 years, statistics have shown a climb in deaths attributable to both. 

There are many risk factors to heart disease such as unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical activity and stress.  

Stress plays a crucial role on our overall well being and can be a leading cause in developing health problems like diabetes, heart problems and high blood pressure.  

There is good news!

CBD can help you keep your heart in good shape and prevent heart disease.  CBD, Cannabidiol, is a derivative and one of two key elements in the cannabis plant, along with THC.  However, unlike THC, it will not make you “high” since it is not psychoactive.

CBD works by interacting with the endocannabinoid systems in the body.  It is not well known how these systems work but by interacting with the body’s cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), CBD can affect the body’s immune system and contribute positively to overall health and increased well-being.

CBD has already shown to help alleviate anxiety and to reduce cortisol levels that contribute to the feeling of stress that can lead to heart problems and stroke. 

CBD can help in the prevention of stroke due to its antioxidant properties and its capability to dilate vascular arteries that provide blood flow to the brain.  

A 2010 review has found that CBD, when given to patients of stroke, helped in the prevention of brain damage by increasing blood flow to the brain and also served as an aid to boosting brain function on the road to recovery. 

Other virtues of CBD are its anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce the risk of developing heart disease as a result of high blood pressure. Some research has shown that CBD has the ability to lower blood pressure and heart rate in stressful situations.  

In addition, CBD has been shown to have a positive effect on many experimental models of various heart diseases where it decreased organ damage and dysfunction and reduced inflammatory processes among many more.

Research on the benefits of CBD on the heart and the vascular system as well as on the brain is still in its infancy, although it shows promise from what we’ve already observed.