Compare the Best CBD for Heart Arrhythmia in 2022

How CBD May Help With Heart Arrhythmia

Cannabidiol is one of over 100 identified phytocannabinoids present in Cannabis sativa. This compound may help relieve heart problems by producing anti-arrhythmic effects during ischemia and reperfusion (I/R)⁽¹⁾. 

Ischaemia or ischemia is a restriction of blood supply to the heart. Meanwhile, reperfusion is the restoration of blood flow to a tissue or organ to preserve the ischaemic tissues. 

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) may work in the heart and heart vessels by simulating cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2)⁽²⁾. Thus, cannabidiol may help regulate heart rate to relieve heart arrhythmia.       

In an animal study using rat models, researchers showed that cannabidiol helps decrease infarct size and arrhythmia⁽³⁾. An infarct is a small region of dead tissue due to failure of blood supply. 

The authors reported that cannabidiol functions as a cardioprotective agent in the acute phase of I/R.

Due to arrhythmia potentially caused by alterations in heart activity and tissue, CBD’s tissue-protective properties may help reduce abrupt changes in heart rate⁽⁴⁾. 

A study published by the Heart and Circulatory Physiology journal tested the effect of CBD on ischemic rat hearts⁽⁵⁾. The rodents were treated with cannabidiol for seven days for in vivo (in a living organism) studies. 

Cannabidiol-treated rats demonstrated reduced interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels and myocardial inflammation. IL-6 is an inflammatory mediator, and studies show that IL-6 is regulated in the heart⁽⁶⁾.

Clinical studies reported that individuals with congestive heart failure (CHF) had increased levels of IL-6⁽⁷⁾. CHF is a severe heart health condition where the organ pumps less efficiently than warranted to function properly.

Another medical study published in the European Journal of Pharmacology showed the physiological triphasic effects of cannabinoids on the cardiovascular system and blood pressure⁽⁸⁾. Triphasic refers to compounds given in three phrases.   

Cannabinoids are the natural and synthetic compounds structurally or pharmacologically linked to the constituents of the cannabis plant. The main cannabinoids include cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Cannabidiol interacts with the body’s ECS, including neurotransmitters that activate the cannabinoid receptors. Neurotransmitters are the body’s chemical messengers.

The primary cannabinoid receptors are CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors mainly exist in nerve cells, while CB2 receptors are primarily located in white blood cells.  

Researchers that conducted a study published in Cannabinoids in Health and Disease reported that the ECS functions in the heart and heart vessels by simulating the CB1 and CB2 receptor subtypes⁽⁹⁾. 

Signaling through the CB1 receptors is involved in bradycardia, negative inotropy, and hypotension. 

Bradycardia is slower than average heart rate, negative inotropy is a change in the force of heart contraction, and hypotension is low blood pressure.

The ECS is not highly regulated in normal physiological conditions. CBD may benefit patients with acute cardiovascular health conditions by impacting the ECS receptor activity.

Meanwhile, research suggested that CB2 receptors have anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic, and antioxidative properties⁽¹⁰⁾. Anti-atherogenic properties prevent the hardening of arteries.

However, these findings resulted from a study with mice subjects. More research is necessitated to determine whether CBD may induce the same therapeutic benefits in human subjects.

Research published in the Journal of Arrhythmia linked inflammation pathways to atrial fibrillation (AF or AFib). AF, frequently rapid or irregular heart rate, comprises the most frequent heart arrhythmia in clinical practice⁽¹¹⁾.  

Cannabidiol may help relieve heart arrhythmia by reducing cell death and inflammation associated with heart disease⁽¹²⁾. 

Some types of cardiac arrhythmias transpire in patients with myocarditis.  Myocarditis is inflammation involving the heart muscle.

A research study in the Journals of the American College of Cardiology reported that cannabidiol helps prevent heart damage in mice with heart disease and diabetes⁽¹³⁾. 

Additional studies are needed to determine if CBD may provide therapeutic benefits in human subjects. 

Benefits and Uses of CBD for Heart Arrhythmia

Cannabidiol’s potential health benefits include anti-inflammatory, chronic pain relief, and neuroprotective properties^(14-15). The therapeutic effects of cannabidiol may also help relieve symptoms, including chest discomfort and cardiac contractility^(16-17).

Dizziness 

Arrhythmia patients experience dizziness as their heart cannot pump blood effectively due to excessively fast or slow heart rates.   

A Brazilian study showed that purified CBD products reduced dizziness⁽¹⁸⁾. 

While it may be among the potential benefits of CBD, a direct connection of cannabidiol to arrhythmia was not determined by the researchers. Thus, additional research is warranted. 

Another study by the University of Nottingham in the U.K. noted that CBD may help improve vasorelaxation, enhancing blood flow⁽¹⁹⁾. The activation of CB1 receptors triggered the vasorelaxation of arteries.

Chest Discomfort

Heart rhythm problems are among the heart conditions and may cause chest discomfort due to premature heartbeats. A medical study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology reported that cannabidiol may produce therapeutic effects on the cardiovascular system⁽²⁰⁾.  

The cardioprotective and antiarrhythmic roles of CBD are caused by the body’s immunomodulatory activity rather than directly linked to the heart. 

A single dose (50 milligrams/kilogram) of CBD given pre-ischemia or pre-reperfusion may reduce the infarction size⁽²¹⁾.  

Nevertheless, when chest pain or discomfort is accompanied by shortness of breath, you should secure care for the medical condition. Call 911 or the emergency number within your area. 

Additionally, you should be aware of potential risk factors of heart arrhythmia, including obesity⁽²²⁾. 

Cardiac Contractility

Cardiac contractility is the heart muscle‘s innate ability to produce a force independent of any load or stretch applied.

Two common varieties of arrhythmias are ventricular fibrillation and atrial fibrillation, according to the American Heart Association⁽²³⁾. 

Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib) occurs when the heart’s lower chambers are in disorganized contraction, while atrial fibrillation occurs when the upper heart chamber contracts irregularly. 

A recent crossover study published in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity noted that cannabidiol had several interactions with the membrane receptors and ion channels that help modulate myocyte contractility⁽²⁴⁾. Ion channels are membrane proteins.

Additionally, cannabidiol may help activate the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor⁽²⁵⁾. The process may decrease ventricular arrhythmias and reduce the mean arterial pressure (MAP). 

Other Benefits of CBD for Arrhythmia 

Animal studies on the potential neuroprotective properties of CBD suggested that the compound may help lower the degenerating and viable neurons by over 50% in newborn piglets⁽²⁶⁾.   

More extensive research is needed to determine if CBD produces the same therapeutic effects in human subjects.

Hypoxia-ischemia is a condition in which insufficient blood flows to the organs and cells. When the heart experiences arrhythmia, the irregular heartbeat may impact the blood flow in the body.  

How Long CBD Takes to Help With Heart Arrhythmia 

Some common methods of administering cannabidiol for arrhythmia include: 

• Dropping CBD oil or tinctures sublingually, underneath the tongue
• Ingesting CBD tablets, CBD capsules, CBD gummies, or CBD supplements
• Applying CBD topicals like CBD lotions, CBD creams, CBD balms, and CBD salves onto the skin for pain relief
• Inhaling CBD vape oils 

When taking CBD sublingually, you may experience therapeutic effects within 10 to 15 minutes⁽²⁷⁾.

CBD edibles like CBD gummies help conceal the “earthy” taste of CBD oil. However, some CBD brands have product lines that offer unflavored options. 

You may feel the therapeutic effects of CBD edibles between 30 minutes to 2 hours after administration⁽²⁸⁾. 

Topical applications cause CBD to be absorbed into the skin’s surface. You may experience localized effects within 10 minutes following topical application⁽²⁹⁾.

Unlike CBD topicals, transdermal CBD products like transdermal patches and gels are absorbed into the skin. You can apply them to a particular body area, such as the chest. 

However, unlike CBD transdermals, CBD topicals have limited absorption. They may be absorbed into the skin, muscles, and nerves. However, they may not reach the bloodstream.

Ingesting CBD vape oil is a quick way to get cannabidiol into the body. The compound enters the bloodstream through the porous lungs without passing through the bloodstream.

You may experience the therapeutic effects of CBD vape juices or CBD oil vapes within three minutes⁽³⁰⁾. 

However, certain studies cautioned that vaping may produce pulmonary health risks⁽³¹⁾. 

In addition to detrimental effects on the lungs, other vaping hazards include allergic reactions and irritation to chemicals⁽³²⁾. 

Other factors that may impact a CBD product’s efficacy include the route of administration and cannabinoid potency. 

How Long CBD May Help With Heart Arrhythmia 

The effects of CBD tinctures for heart arrhythmia may last between four to six hours, while CBD oil vapes may last between three to five hours^(33-34). 

A 2018 study suggested that cannabidiol has a half-life of one to two days following oral consumption⁽³⁵⁾. Half-life is the time required for the compounds’ concentration to be reduced to half from the initial dosage. 

Following an oromucosal spray consumption route, CBD’s half-life is between 1.4 hours and 10.9 hours⁽³⁶⁾. However, the half-life is 24 hours for intravenous administration⁽³⁷⁾. 

Potential Risks and Side Effects of Using CBD for Heart Arrhythmia

Although cannabidiol is generally safe and has potential therapeutic benefits for heart arrhythmia, particular side effects may still transpire.

Potential risks of utilizing CBD for cardiovascular diseases may include dry mouth, mood and alertness changes, drowsiness, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, and liver damage⁽³⁸⁾. 

Avoid taking cannabidiol if your heart medication or supplements include a grapefruit warning. Some medicines for hypertension or high blood pressure have a grapefruit warning, including Procardia and Adalat CC. 

Epidiolex is the sole Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved CBD prescription drug. The cannabidiol-derived drug is used to treat some rare forms of epilepsy⁽³⁹⁾. 

Seek professional medical advice if you experience shortness of breath, pain in your chest, dizziness, and fainting. These symptoms may be signs of severe heart arrhythmia or a heart attack. 

Legality of CBD

With different levels of restrictions in individual U.S. states, CBD products are available in many regions of the United States.

The laws surrounding CBD and cannabis use have varying restrictions depending on the state⁽⁴⁰⁾.

The three primary types of CBD products on the market include full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD, and CBD isolates.

Full-spectrum CBD oil is known to have all the naturally occurring compounds in the cannabis plant. Broad-spectrum CBD oil includes a wide range of compounds, although it is typically THC-free, unlike full-spectrum CBD. CBD isolates are pure CBD.  

The U.S. Farm Bill of 2018 legalized the growth, production, and manufacturing of hemp on the federal level⁽⁴¹⁾. 

The bill removed hemp-derived products and hemp products with less than 0.3% of THC from the list of Schedule I controlled drugs, substances, or chemicals⁽⁴²⁾.

This change meant that hemp products with less than 0.3% THC content are federally legal.