Kratom And Blood Pressure
Are you a regular kratom user and wondering if it’s causing an increase in or decrease in your blood pressure? Or do you want to enjoy the benefits that kratom offers but are concerned about your heart health?
Kratom can be pretty beneficial for people who have found solace in this herbal supplement. Offering myriads of promising effects, kratom is a medicinal and recreational drug from Southeast Asia that has gained a lot of traction in the west and the USA.
But as is the case with other drugs or herbal supplements, kratom may also carry a risk of side effects, especially in relation to your heart health and overall body responses. If you’ve decided to explore kratom, you’ll need to figure out a few things when doing your research so you can make informed decisions and save your body from developing any abnormal responses.
Below we discuss the effects of kratom on blood pressure and whether it’s recommended by experts to be used by people with heart issues or not.
What Is High Blood Pressure?
According to WHO (World Health Organization), blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood against the walls of the body’s arteries, the major blood vessels in the body. Hypertension is when the blood pressure is too high.
Blood pressure is determined by two factors. The first (systolic) pressure represents the pressure in blood vessels when the heart contracts or beats. The second (diastolic) pressure means the pressure in the vessels when the heart rests between beats. 
Hypertension is diagnosed if, when it is measured on two different days, the systolic blood pressure readings on both days is ≥140 mmHg and/or the diastolic blood pressure readings on both days is ≥90 mmHg.
On the flip side, low blood pressure occurs when the blood pressure is much lower than usual. This means the heart, brain, and other parts of the body do not get enough blood. Normal blood pressure is mostly between 90/60 mmHg and 120/80 mmHg with or without comorbidities.
How To Identify The Signs Of High Blood Pressure?
You must have heard that hypertension is known as the "silent killer".This is because most people with hypertension are unaware of the problem because they may not have any warning signs or symptoms. The British Heart Foundation also indicates that high blood pressure rarely has noticeable symptoms such as:
- Blurred vision
- Nosebleeds
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Headaches
As per WHO, when symptoms do occur, they can include early morning headaches, nosebleeds, irregular heart rhythms, vision changes, and buzzing in the ears. Severe hypertension can cause fatigue, nausea, vomiting, confusion, stress, and muscle tremors.
If you observe any of these symptoms, the best and only way to detect hypertension is to have a healthcare professional measure any changes in your blood pressure. It is better to consult a medical expert as soon as you observe these signs.
What Are The Symptoms Of Low Blood Pressure?
You can also experience low blood pressure due to many changes in your body, when you have a disease, or when you overdose on a specific drug. The NHS UK recommends that you get your blood pressure checked if you keep getting symptoms like:
- lightheadedness or dizziness
- feeling sick
- blurred vision
- general feeling of weakness
- confusion
- fainting
How Does Kratom Affect Your Blood Pressure?
Kratom is used as a health supplement, and it has great stress-relieving properties. It can boost your daily energy levels, boost your mood, reduce general body inflammation, and make you feel revitalized. However, kratom may affect the users' blood pressure.
Kratom High Blood Pressure
Although many kratom users claim that it lowers their blood pressure, some resources claim that kratom may lead to seizures and high blood pressure. According to the Cleveland Clinic, kratom may have some influence on cardiac issues such as heart attack, abnormal heart rhythms, and high blood pressure. However, there is not enough scientific evidence about kratom’s effect on blood pressure. There is still a huge gap in the body of research on kratom that needs to be filled with more studies.
Kratom And Low Blood Pressure
Some users of kratom suggest that kratom can be a good remedy for hypertension. They claim that the symptoms that cause blood pressure disappeared with the use of kratom.
Moreover, kratom has been used by many people to combat stress and palpitations. These claims make a different side of kratom visible and suggest that it can potentially reduce high blood pressure.
What causes kratom to be so effective is its alkaloid content. The two most prominent and potent alkaloids in kratom are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.
This adrenergic activity is what may cause a slight increase in blood pressure. However, it shows similar effects.
What Do Medical Experts Say About This Issue?
Henry Spiller, MS, DABAT, director of the Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, says, “Individuals who choose to use kratom need to be aware of the potential risks.” Moreover, as suggested in an article on the Harvard Health Blog by Dr. Peter Grinspoon, kratom may cause high blood pressure, but in any case, hypertension patients must avoid an overdose.
This means that even though kratom has been associated with both low and high blood pressures, it is recommended to avoid getting overdosed or trying potentially risky kratom compounds without doing proper research on the subject.
Blood Pressure & Kratom Dosage
At low doses of kratom, you’ll mostly experience stimulant effects in your body. However, some sources indicate that it can have some side effects like narrowing blood vessels and raising blood pressure.
It should always be noted that, in cases of overdose, kratom can potentially increase blood pressure, which may be risky, especially for people who are prone to develop heart issues. For this reason, you need to pay attention to your doses and regulate them carefully by measuring the right amounts throughout your routine.
Conclusion
Although kratom is preferred by many users for its relaxing effects, it should not be forgotten that some people may develop serious side effects with its use. There is currently not enough information on how exactly kratom influences blood pressure. Many users and doctors state that kratom may increase blood pressure by a certain amount.
If you suffer from hypertension or hypotension, it is recommended that you start taking a low dose of kratom and gradually find the right daily dose.
Try to reach the dose that works for you with a gradual increase. Use the right amount of kratom to keep you motivated, energized, and stress-free without experiencing any negative effects.
