Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. for both men and women. According to the Centers for Disease Control, around 610,000 Americans die of heart disease annually.... That is 1 in 4 people that this preventable disease is taking every single year.

Can heart disease be prevented?
The short answer is yes. There are most certainly genetics involved for some people; however, the most common cause of heart disease in America is lifestyle. Poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle are silent killers when it comes to your cardiovascular health. Living a healthy lifestyle is even more important when you are genetically predisposed to heart disease.
Your cardiovascular system includes your heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Any disease or malfunction of any kind in this system could be catastrophic to the entire body. The importance of this system is many times over looked by many Americans as evidenced by living risky lifestyle and/or ignoring warning signs.

Controllable Risk Factors

• Smoking : Tobacco smoke contains carbon monoxide & reduces the amount of oxygen being delivered to your organs. Smoking is also very damaging to the blood vessels and this damage leads to a buildup of fatty deposits that can lead to stroke, heart attack, & high blood pressure.
• Lack of physical activity : This affects especially people who sit a lot. Lack of muscle movement, decreased blood flow, lack of aerobic activity leading to decreased oxygen delivered to the heart. Everyone should have some sort of activity, even small amounts of activity can decrease your risk.
• If you sit a lot for your job, get up and take a little 5 minute walk at least every hour . Even a small walk like this increases blood flow, stimulates the muscles, & increases your energy. Prolonged sitting can lead to blood clots and atrophic muscles.
• Poor Diet : This is a tough one for many people (including myself). “Everything in moderation” can be a struggle when you are faced with your favorite foods (my weakness is all things sugar) If this is a struggle for you, try adding plant based foods rich in antioxidants and vitamins to your diet and then slowly reduce or remove foods high in trans fats, saturated fats, refined sugars, and sodium. This is especially difficult for the young and people who have always had a great metabolism. They don’t see the damage so its hard for them to accept it as a reality.
• Excess Weight : Knowing & maintaining your ideal weight (as close as you can, no one is perfect) can stave off a whole host of diseases. When you are carrying extra weight, your heart is under constant strain to pump your blood, depriving it and other organs of oxygen. Excess weight can also lead to diabetes which can lead to heart disease.
• Stress : Stress is literally a killer in this nation, and leads to so very many diseases that can be avoided. The fast pace of life here contributes to a high stress culture. We as Americans put so much pressure on ourselves and each other to be better, faster, & smarter than the next guy. Uncontrolled stress can lead to high levels of adrenaline and cortisol, keeping your brain in a constant state of fight or flight. Your fight or flight response is there for a reason and is extremely important in some situations, but when this response is perpetual it puts a tremendous strain on your entire body.
• High Cholesterol and/or Blood Pressure : If you are genetically programmed for high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure, then the risk factors mentioned above mean even more to you. Gaining control of your cholesterol can literally save your life. Be proactive. Quit Smoking (or better yet don’t ever start). Eat a diet high in heart healthy foods. Find an activity level that is comfortable for you and increases your blood flow. Maintain a healthy weight. Avoid/control stress.

How can CBD help keep my heart healthy?
CBD doesn't directly interact with your cardiovascular system, but your Endocannabinoid System most certainly plays a starring role. Your ECS is responsible for homeostasis in the body. Balance means your heart is able to raise and lower with physical activity, your blood is able to clot when needed, free radicals & toxins are removed, etc. Without this balance for example, your heart would be unable to maintain a healthy rhythm, you would bleed out if you cut yourself, and free radicals and toxins would damage everything in their path.

There are many other benefits that CBD provides to your heart health.

• CBD is a powerful anti-inflammatory and can reduce damaging cellular inflammation which is one of the worst offenders to every system in your body.
• CBD is a powerful anti-oxidant. Oxidative stress can lead to cellular inflammation that can lead to heart damage.
• CBD helps your body to increase blood flow by opening blood vessels, leading to less damage to arterial walls caused by high blood pressure.
• CBD works to reduce stress & anxiety. Stress and anxiety can lead to an avalanche of health issues and is very damaging to the heart over time. CBD works to decrease cardiac response to stress/anxiety & can significantly reduce damage to your heart and vessels.
• CBD helps to boost the activity of the compounds responsible for clearing out blockages in vessel walls, leading to decreased blood pressure and reduced risk of stroke and heart attack.
• CBD promotes healthy sleep cycles, giving your heart the rest it needs and deserves.

I preach all the time that the most important thing when using CBD for your health is consistency. While you can absolutely use CBD to help manage flare ups, it is most effective when you establish what your therapeutic level is and maintain a baseline concentration. Prevention should always be the cornerstone of your regimen.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease