Kratom is known for its health benefits and therefore users often vouch for its efficacy as a health supplement. However, kratom can impact users’ blood pressure while energizing and stimulating the nerves and improving mood.
Kratom is a lesser-known organic substance and many people who want to use it often feel reluctant about trying kratom products.
This lack of knowledge is due to little research on this substance. However, people who use it as a pain killer, anti-depressant or anti-inflammatory, claim that it is the best thing that happened to them!
Several users say that kratom is in itself, a good remedy for hypertension. All the symptoms that cause an increase in blood pressure can be treated with kratom.
For instance, anxiety, palpitations and an increase in metabolism may add to the rise in blood pressure. All these symptoms are addressed with regular kratom use, thus an indirect implication of kratom being good for hypertension becomes valid!
What causes kratom to be so impactful is the alkaloid content. The two most prominent and impactful alkaloids in kratom are mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine.
These two alkaloids generate several effects in users as they react with the opioid receptors in the brain. The most common effects of these alkaloids are:
- Pain relief
- Mood enhancement
- Stimulation
- Invigoration and increase in energy
- Antidepressant
- Confidence booster
The results of kratom vary with individuals. Having said this, the users’ experiences are enough to show that kratom not only helps with chronic pain but also invigorates and energizes the body in a way that you can revolutionize your lifestyle!
What Is High Blood Pressure?
Hypertension or increased blood pressure is the diligent pulse point of 140/99 mmHg or above for adults.
Below this pressure, the circulatory strain is considered normal. It may be an inherited trait of the body, or individuals might have a lifestyle or eating habits that lead to hypertension.
Whatever the reason for your hypertension, you must remain cautious when consuming any organic or dietary supplement.
Kratom has impacted people differently, and while some sing praises, others might have experienced an increase in blood pressure.
Hypotension or low blood pressure is observed when the diligent pulse point is lower than 90/60 mmHg. When taken in optimum amount, kratom does not cause lower blood pressure.
At higher dosages, it is observed to contribute to a rise in hypertension. This inference implies that hypotension remains unaffected by kratom.
The organic substance corrects organ functions and stabilizes the body. This property shows that the change in blood pressure is unlikely to be a cause of kratom.
The organic supplement soothes the body, therefore, an increase in blood pressure seems highly unlikely to be a side effect of kratom.
Symptoms Of High And Low Blood Pressure
Your blood pressure can either be high or low. The best way to identify is by measuring it with a blood pressure instrument.
Those people who have high blood pressure do not feel any symptoms; however, if your blood pressure is continuously rising, then you can feel a lot of changes in your physical health.
For instance, nose bleeds, black-outs, trouble breathing, headaches, vision problems and fits are the most common symptoms of high blood pressure.
On the contrary, if you have low blood pressure, then you might feel dizzy, nauseous, confused, irregular heartbeat or have blurry vision. So, if you think of any of these symptoms, then you might want to see a doctor.
Several symptoms are associated with kratom, and fluctuation in blood pressure is not directly one of them.
The truth is that it is a dietary supplement that has helped millions of people come over health issues.
People with hypothyroidism, pigmentation, weight gain and other complications have to be careful with every medication or natural supplement.
However, once users learn how to set their kratom dosage, they will understand that kratom is not the reason for any blood pressure issue.
Kratom and Blood Pressure: The Connection
Users often want to know if kratom impacts blood pressure, and we aim to find the connection logically.
To understand how kratom may impact blood pressure fluctuation, we need to understand a few factors.
The alkaloids in kratom bring about a few physiological changes such as the expansion of circulatory strain. You must have often heard that kratom behaves like an opiate.
One of the similarities is that when kratom is taken in large amounts, it may relieve pain but the rise in blood pressure is observed in many users.
This unavoidable experience may contradict the research on numerous types of kratom that are supposed to be euphoric in high quantity.
However, if a person suffers from hypertension, it is pertinent to keep a check on the dosage to avoid any undesirable effects.
Stimulation, mood changes, increase in energy and even anti-depressant properties of this botanical substance are observed when consumed in moderate amounts.
Pain relief and euphoria are associated with high dosage but through user experiences, we get to know that blood pressure rises as your dosage goes up!
Kratom has several other alkaloids such as the mitraphyline. Each alkaloid contributes to some health benefits.
The body muscles relax, and even the walls of blood vessels expand when our brain reacts to these alkaloids.
This interaction results in lowering of the blood pressure. It may be noted that it is this reaction of the human body to kratom that has caused a lot of controversies.
The FDA does not recognize the medicinal benefits of kratom and terms it as a drug. This classification is due to the ability of kratom to lower blood pressure just like opiates do.
Blood Pressure & Kratom Connection According To Research
A study by the Mahidol University, Bangkok concluded that people who used kratom experienced a rise in heart rate and blood pressure.
However, with this change, the on-set of kratom was also increased to eight hours. However, with slight changes to dosage, this increase in blood pressure can be easily avoided.
The study also included that the age, activity level and stress level of the user must also be taken into account!
You can find out a lot of user reviews on social media and interactive platforms. You will observe that a lot of people who take around 15mg of kratom every day, claim that they experience a high blood pressure after a few hours of consumption.
On the contrary, people who consume a smaller amount experience stable pulse and blood pressure recording.
Another research paper from the National Institute of health also discussed the impact of kratom on the posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome. This syndrome is associated with hypertension and several other health concerns.
The subject of the observation experienced high blood pressure due to a heavy dosage of kratom. Under observation, the subject’s vital signs normalized in five days.
Interference Of Kratom With Medicines
Some medicines break down in the liver and kratom might impact the pace at which the breaking down occurs.
In case of kratom in the system, there may be chances of how the medicine gets absorbed into the blood stream and the consequent effects may get nullified or enhanced.
Some common medicines for hypertension are Zestril, Prinivil, and Lotensin. If a person uses kratom along with the medication for hypertension, there is a chance that the effects of the medicine are enhanced!
Therefore, it is always advised that before taking kratom or changing medication, hypertension patients must consult a physician or a health practitioner.
Is Blood Pressure Fluctuation Felt After Kratom Use?
The lowering of blood pressure relieves pain as well and makes the user feel peaceful, tranquil, and rested. Simultaneously, it also results in a relaxed and happier person who does not let worries take over.
This impact of kratom is desirable, but does it favor all those who suffer from low blood pressure or hypertension?
For clarity on this, we must review the feedback of kratom users. Since the research on kratom is limited, the user reviews provide an excellent insight into how kratom impacts people who have blood pressure issues.
What Does Medical Expert Say About This Issue?
A very recent article on the Harvard Health Blog by Dr. Peter Grinspoon discussed the efficacy and dangers of kratom. Dr. Grinspoon wrote that if users are aware of their optimal dosage, the risk of any side effect automatically finishes.
The freshness of kratom also plays an integral part in the impact of the substance, and therefore, users must ensure that their kratom dose is free from contamination or mold.
Secondly, the Harvard doctor also mentioned that users must study about kratom so that they are aware of its impact. Knowledge can help avoid any adverse effects.
Another factor that the doctor pointed out was that there should be more research on kratom so that users are fully aware of its benefits and side effects.
While the article does not suggest that kratom causes blood pressure increase, hypertension patients must avoid an overdose and maintain a minimum daily kratom feed.
Higher The Dosage, The Higher The Blood Pressure?
According to the reviews of users, kratom leads to a rise in blood pressure in some individuals.
As mentioned before, there is no scientific backing but users have felt a rise in heart rate and blood pressure.
Hypertension from kratom is linked with the amount of the organic substance that you consume. If you maintain a lower dosage, all unwanted side effects will diminish.
The blood vessels dilate and the users must feel tranquil and pain-free after using kratom, but if the dosage is high, this effect is reversed and users feel a rush in terms of heartbeat and blood pressure.
An optimum dose of 5mg is safe, however, larger doses may interfere with hypertension.
As you consume kratom, the blood pressure rises after few hours as on-set is experienced.
The blood rush is for a few hours only, but people suffering from hypertension might feel uncomfortable due to this unwanted rise.
This effect is one of the reasons that dosage remains an essential part to consider when taking kratom.
A Single Dose Can Make A Difference
Unlike pharmaceutical medication, natural supplements can help normalize blood pressure. Kratom can tranquilize the nerves and keeps the blood pressure in check as long as the dosage is moderate.
A single dosage of kratom can help keep the blood pressure in check, especially if you opt for the Red Bali kratom or white vein kratom types.
If the kratom strains impact users by tranquilizing and mood enhancement, blood pressure remains normal. There can be an increase in pulse and blood pressure after a few hours of consumption, but that is not a universal impact and varies with individuals.
Common User Reviews
Kratom users agree that a hefty dose of kratom will contribute to a rise in blood pressure as the circulatory system strain increases.
This rise in blood pressure is one of the reasons that a limited dose of kratom is advised. When consumed in lower doses, kratom only relaxes the body, and internally, the blood vessels also relax to ease the flow of blood.
As mentioned earlier, this feedback was of majority users. However, some kratom consumers also said that their blood pressure remains normal when they take kratom.
There is a spike in their pulse rate and blood flow once the effect of kratom starts to wear out.
One user said that he took kratom for spinal cord injury, his blood pressure started dropping, and blood sugar levels also normalized. Another consumer reported that her blood pressure was not.
This variance of experience shows that kratom will impact users in different ways, but high blood pressure to the extent of discomfort is not a side effect of this organic supplement.
Now, we can consider the various known effects of kratom and observe how the circulatory strain is effected during each activity. This way, we can more comprehensively understand how blood pressure changes when a person consumes kratom.
Pain Relief and Blood Pressure
The opioids and non-steroidal pain killers available in the market, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, increase blood pressure due to the signaling systems of the body.
Moreover, they hamper the efficacy of hypertension medication, therefore resulting in a risky increase in blood pressure.
Water retention caused by these pain killers is also a reason that the user may experience higher blood pressure.
Kratom, in comparison, is an organic supplement that is known for its painkilling properties.
However, it does not cause any of the hindrances that the drugs mentioned above may cause. Kratom users may feel a slight change in their blood pressure, but it does not hamper the function of medication!
How Antidepressants Can Affect Blood Pressure
The study states that the use of tricyclic -antidepressants and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors causes high blood pressure to rise. Often patients of hypertension are advised not to rely on such medication.
Kratom, on the contrary, has a lesser impact on blood pressure changes and the slight changes that are observed may be harmless for people who take medication.
There is insufficient research on the impact of kratom on blood pressure. People often assume that the effects of kratom can suggest that the body undergoes the same changes that are seen when a patient takes any pharmaceutical drug for the same symptom.
Conclusion
Kratom does not drastically interfere with blood pressure medicines but since all users are different, it is best to consult a physician.
A majority of kratom users feel as if their blood pressure reduces and then normalizes as the impact of kratom wears off, but it is not a dangerously low or high change in the pressure.
If you are a hypertension patient, it is recommended that you start taking kratom in a low dose and gradually find the right daily dosage.
Similarly, if you are a hypotension patient, you must try to limit your kratom consumption to the optimum.
Try to reach the optimum dosage through a gradual increase. Find the right amount of kratom that will keep you motivated, energized, and pain-free, without any adverse effect on blood pressure.
