A study found the number of Americans aged 65 and older who smoke marijuana or enjoy edibles increased 75% over a three year period, prompting a study on the positive effects of blood pressure.
The researchers studied patients ages 60 and older who had hypertension. The subjects were prescribed cannabis, then monitored with 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure devices. They also performed ECGs, blood tests and took body measurements before the patients began their cannabis use and three months afterward. They found a significant reduction in 24-hour systolic and diastolic blood pressure values, with the lowest point occurring three hours after ingesting cannabis either orally via oil extracts or by smoking. Patients showed reductions in blood pressure during both daytime and nighttime, with more significant changes at night.
One reason for the lower BP, the researchers wrote, might be because cannabis eases any pain symptoms the older adults had. “Cannabis research is in its early stages and BGU is at the forefront of evaluating clinical use based on scientific studies,” said Doug Seserman, chief executive officer of American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. “This new study is one of several that has been published recently by BGU on the medicinal benefits of cannabis.”
