Today is World Heart Day, an annual day of awareness for cardiovascular disease, the most significant cause of illness and mortality in the global fight against non-communicable diseases.1 In the United States, heart disease is responsible for one out of every four deaths each year, making it the number one cause of death among people of nearly all racial and ethnic groups.2 While most of us are familiar with the primary contributing factors of heart disease – high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking– there are numerous lifestyle factors that can increase a person’s risk. Luckily, there are also many simple health practices and supplements that can be incorporated today to lessen the risk, one of which is CBD.
What else causes heart disease?
1. Alcohol. Although some studies show evidence that drinking antioxidant-rich beverages like red wine in moderation may actually preserve heart health, excessive drinking is a much more dangerous pursuit. Drinking past moderation, or one drink per day for women and one to two for men, increases a person’s risk of high blood pressure and stroke and puts significant strain on the heart muscle.3
There are many reasons people drink alcohol, but if indulging in a late-night treat is on your list, consider swapping your beverage for a decadent piece of dark chocolate or an antioxidant-rich tea. For an added boost of anti-inflammatory properties, try our fan-favorite CBD Dark Chocolate Bar (in-stores only) or adding a few drops of our Full Spectrum Peppermint CBD Oil to your tea – yum!
2. Sedentary Lifestyle. There is a reason why exercise is regarded as the essential vitamin “E.” Increasing your daily movement reduces your risk of nearly every disease, but it is especially effective at lowering your blood pressure, blood sugars and contributing to a healthy, balanced immune system. Make it a goal to get outside every day—even if you begin with a simple lap around the block—and think about how your body is effectively circulating blood while you’re in motion. Physical activity breaks down the fatty, artery-clogging materials building up in your blood vessels that eventually cause heart disease.
For those suffering from aches and pains that make getting active a difficult pursuit, try the instant pain relief of our CBD Freeze Roll-On Gel. Nearly all pain is closely tied to inflammation and getting on an oral CBD regimen in addition to a fast-acting topical will target inflammation at the source for whole-body pain relief.
3. Glucose. Glucose, or a simple sugar from carbohydrates, is necessary for creating energy in your body. We all love sugary foods; however, too much glucose damages blood vessels and nerves and can eventually cause heart disease.4 People with diabetes have unregulated glucose levels and are thus at a higher risk. The positive news: In a 2012 study on animal models, CBD effectively protected blood vessels against damage in a high-glucose, inflammatory environment via vasorelaxation, or relaxing the blood vessel walls to increase blood flow and prevent damage.5 More research on human subjects is needed for CBD to become an approved method of regulating blood glucose, but the study is incredibly promising for those without diabetes who would like a natural means of controlling blood sugar and reducing inflammation overall.
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On this World Heart Day, consider all the ways you can thank your heart for the critical, life-sustaining role it takes on every single day. Then, treat yourself to 15% off on all purchases made online, at our Route 97 location or at our Millcreek Mall store.
Happy World Heart Day!
Sources:
1. About World Heart Day. World Heart Day. (2021, June 30). Retrieved September 29, 2021, from https://world-heart-federation.org/world-heart-day/about-whd/.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, September 27). Heart Disease Facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved September 29, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm.
3. McEvoy, J. W. (n.d.). Alcohol and Heart Health: Separating Fact from Fiction. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved September 29, 2021, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/alcohol-and-heart-health-separating-fact-from-fiction/
4. S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2021, April). Diabetes, Heart Disease & Stroke. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Retrieved September 29, 2021, from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/heart-disease-stroke.
5. Stanley, C. P., Hind, W. H., & O'Sullivan, S. E. (2012, June 1). Is the cardiovascular system a therapeutic target for cannabidiol? British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. Retrieved September 29, 2021, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3579247/.
