By Luke Sholl Reviewed by: Carles Doménech


The cardiovascular system plays a vital role in the body. Comprising the heart, blood vessels, and the blood, this system is responsible for the critical task of transporting nutrients, hormones, and oxygen to cells via the bloodstream. In combination with the lungs and kidneys, it also disposes of waste products via lung exhalation or urine formation; removing from the body products such as carbon dioxide or nitrogenous compounds.

Given the importance of the cardiovascular system, it will come as no surprise that any malfunctioning or disorder could have catastrophic consequences. Unfortunately, that's the reality facing millions of people worldwide.

Follow along as we explore the details surrounding cardiovascular disease, and see if CBD presents any avenues for addressing this global health issue.

What Is Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)?

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Conditions within this category include:

Heart valve diseases Hypertension
Coronary heart disease Heart arrhythmia
Diseases of the arteries (Atheromatosis)

There are numerous causes of cardiovascular diseases, but lifestyle is a major factor. This is somewhat of a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, changes to diet, exercise, and the reduction of tobacco use can significantly improve quality of life. However, the caveat is that of the 17.9 million people affected by CVD in 2019[1], many cases were preventable.

  • Are Cardiovascular Disease and Heart Disease the Same?

It's a common question, but one worth clarifying. When we talk about cardiovascular disease, we refer to several conditions affecting the heart (cardio) and the blood vessels (vascular). Heart disease focuses specifically on heart conditions such as coronary heart disease, heart arrhythmia, and valve heart diseases.

Of course, given how closely linked these systems are, it's common to see overlap, with conditions that technically fall under both categories. The simplest explanation is that all heart diseases fall under the umbrella of cardiovascular disease, while not all cardiovascular diseases affect the heart.

What Is Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)?

Types of Cardiovascular Disease

We briefly mentioned several of the conditions under the cardiovascular disease umbrella, but given the prevalence and severity of CVD, it's worth taking a closer look at some of them. Understanding cardiovascular diseases and their origins, or etiology, will also help us better understand the role of the endocannabinoid system, and why researchers are looking at the impact of compounds like CBD.

Some cardiovascular disorders include:

Deep vein thrombosis Affecting veins in the lower leg, thigh, and pelvis, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that can be very dangerous if left untreated. Symptoms typically manifest as swelling, throbbing, and red or darkened skin (in the affected area).
Rheumatic fever Rheumatic fever develops due to complications of bacterial throat infections. Symptoms include fever, heart failure, and swelling of the joints.
Coronary heart
disease
Mostly the result of lifestyle choices, coronary heart disease (CAD) occurs when fatty deposits block or limit blood flow in the heart's main arteries. Symptoms start as chest pains (angina), often associated with shortness of breath, but can quickly worsen.
Peripheral arterial disease With a similar obstruction mechanism to CAD, peripheral arterial disease occurs because of blocked arteries, this can affect legs, arms or kidneys, rather than the heart. Symptoms vary depending on the organ affected.
Heart attack and stroke Left unchecked, peripheral arterial diseases will ultimately lead to a stroke. This occurs from a lack of blood supply to your brain, often by arterial carotid obstruction. Strokes are also caused by burst blood vessels. These are known as hemorrhagic strokes.

Traditional Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease

It depends on the severity of the condition, but much of the focus for CVD treatment is lifestyle adjustments. Not only are these a great way to prevent disease in the first place, but they can help to rehabilitate patients.

  • Lifestyle changes: Regular exercise, changes to diet, and a balanced approach to alcohol can significantly change CVD severity. In fact, it's thought that most cases of cardiovascular disease could be avoided by addressing what the World Health Organization calls "behavioural risk factors".
  • Medical intervention: For more severe instances of CVD, doctors usually prescribe medication or even surgery. Both focus on improving blood flow, via repairing damaged arteries, restoring a regular heartbeat, or replacing heart valves.

Understanding the Role of the ECS in Cardiovascular Disease

It's now time to dive into the role of the endocannabinoid system in heart health[2]. Research is ongoing, but from what is understood so far, the ECS plays a supportive role in heart health, stepping in when it detects a stressed or unbalanced state. The ECS in the heart contains a combination of CB receptors, non-CB receptors, and endocannabinoids (internally produced compounds similar to the cannabinoids found in cannabis). 

  • Cannabinoid Receptors

Starting with cannabinoid receptors, there are two main types, CB1 and CB2. Both exist all over the body, but for the heart, we're primarily interested in CB2 receptors (the one linked mainly with CBD). Animal studies[3] suggest that activation of CB2 receptors may influence cases of atherosclerosis and ischemia.

  • Endocannabinoids

Then, there's the proposed role of endocannabinoids, most notably anandamide (AEA). Things get a little more complex here, as scientists still aren't sure which receptor(s) anandamide acts upon. What they have found, however, is that anandamide may play a part in the relaxation of arteries and other aspects of cardiovascular disease, according to a 2001 murine study from the University of Cambridge[4].

If anandamide could prove helpful to heart health, there's a catch—the endocannabinoid doesn't hang around for long. This is a result of a naturally occurring enzyme called FAAH, which decompounds AEA into two smaller metabolites.

CBD and Cardiovascular Health

Studies investigating the interaction between anandamide and FAAH have led researchers to CBD. It appears that cannabidiol may inhibit moderately the FAAH[5] activity, subsequently raising levels of anandamide inside the body.. Given the current understanding of anandamide in heart health, this could prove a useful interaction. Still, as we pointed out, there are several “potential” mechanisms of action, and much more research is needed to verify any findings.

Then, there's the balancing influence of CBD on the endocannabinoid system as a whole. Cannabidiol differs from compounds like THC or CBN which mainly bind to the CB1 receptors, and instead have a much greater affinity with CB2 receptors. 

With that in mind, it’s easy to see why scientists are keen to explore the influence of CBD [6]. For the proper treatment of cardiovascular diseases, a correct understanding of the endocannabinoid system is essential if CBD is to be beneficial.

CBD and Cardiovascular Health
  • What Are the Risks of CBD?

Some research into the impact of CBD on conditions such as hypertension[7] and ischemia induced cardiac arrhythmia[8] has taken place.. But here is where we encourage caution on the topic. One relevant study used a tiny sample size, while another was examining an animal model.

Because it's too early to talk about practical application, it's also premature to say that there aren't any risks. The honest answer is that we just don't know either way. We've previously explored the prospect of cannabis, CBD, and THC on hypertension, but it's important to remember that decreasing heart rate is a double-edged sword. Lower heart rate in healthy individuals is generally a good thing, but if your heart rate is too low, the potential for syncope or ischemia by a blood flux becomes greater, and especially dangerous in patients with artery obstructions.

The final watch-out with CBD is its potential interaction with certain medications. Earlier, we highlighted how prescription medication is often used to treat cases of CVD. For alternative treatments to be effective, they would need to work alongside existing therapies, and there are still a lot of variables to explore in this regard.

Is the Cardiovascular System a Target for CBD?

There's a lot to unpack with CBD and the cardiovascular system, so it's worth recapping the ground we've covered. Cardiovascular disease is a prevalent problem affecting millions of people worldwide—the need for effective treatments is a top priority. The difficulty, of course, is that the cardiovascular system runs throughout the body, which makes finding drugs and treatments for it very challenging.

Underpinning the cardiovascular system is the endocannabinoid system, a regulatory network that helps to balance the body's needs. Researchers believe that the ECS could play a crucial role in heart health, so exploring its full potential is vital. This brings us nicely to CBD, a compound found in cannabis and hemp that may improve the functionality of the ECS. There's still plenty of dots to connect, but the good news is, researchers remain hopeful on the relationship between CBD and cardiovascular disease.

External Resources:
  1. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) https://www.who.int
  2. Endocannabinoids and the Heart https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. The Endocannabinoid System and Heart Disease: The Role of Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. Mechanisms of anandamide-induced vasorelaxation in rat isolated coronary arteries https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. Cannabidiol enhances anandamide signaling and alleviates psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia | Translational Psychiatry https://www.nature.com
  6. Is the cardiovascular system a therapeutic target for cannabidiol? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  7. A single dose of cannabidiol reduces blood pressure in healthy volunteers in a randomized crossover study https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  8. Acute administration of cannabidiol in vivo suppresses ischaemia-induced cardiac arrhythmias and reduces infarct size when given at reperfusion https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: