Medical Marijuana For Hypertension?
Just shy of half the adult American population deals with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. There are many lifestyle changes you can make that will help, although in this article we will discuss the use of medical marijuana for hypertension.
What Is Hypertension?
The oxygenated blood your circulatory system carries throughout your body is vital for your tissues and organs to survive and function properly. With every heartbeat, pressure creates a flow of blood that is forced through a network of tubes, including arteries, veins, and capillaries.
A blood pressure reading is determined by two factors: the first, systolic pressure, results from the blood leaving the heart and entering the arteries, which are parts of the circulatory system.
The second force created by the heart, known as diastolic pressure, is only present when the heart is at rest versus when the heart is beating.
The units of measurement for blood pressure are millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
Normal
- systolic: less than 120 mm Hg
- diastolic: less than 80 mm Hg
Elevated
- systolic: 120–129 mm Hg
- diastolic: less than 80 mm Hg
High blood pressure (hypertension)
- systolic: 130 mm Hg or higher
- diastolic: 80 mm Hg or higher
Can Hypertension Be Cured?
How Can Hypertension Be Prevented?
The following steps can be taken to help with hypertension:
- Eating a healthy diet: Prioritizing consumption of potassium-rich foods and avoiding food high in sodium. Eating plant-based food is also recommended as opposed to food with more fat.
- Physical activity: At least two and a half hours of moderate-intense aerobic exercise per week or one hour and fifteen minutes of vigorous-intense aerobic exercise per week is recommended.
- Maintaining a healthy weight: Your risk of increased heart rate is exponentially higher if you are overweight or obese.
- Reduce alcohol consumption: The consumption of alcohol not only impacts heart rate but also increases the risk of unnecessary weight gain.
- Don’t smoke: Avoid starting, avoid relapsing, and avoid continuing. Smoking cigarettes increases blood pressure and in turn, increases the risk of stroke or heart attack.
- Controlling stress: Stress management can improve your emotional and physical health, as well as lower your blood pressure.
Medical Marijuana for Hypertension
Consult A Doctor
If you are considering using medical marijuana for any reason, including hypertension, it is always best to speak with your doctor first.
