The utilization of marijuana is currently legal in a number of states for medical applications and in several other states for recreational use.
Let’s have a look at what characterizes cannabinoids.
Cannabinoids are categorized as a group of compounds found in the cannabis or marijuana plant.
Cannabinoids are frequently considered to possess extensive healing qualities, but established research indicates there could also be adverse impacts like a strong link between cannabinoid use and the advancement of hearing loss or tinnitus symptoms.
How many types of cannabinoids are there?
Cannabinoids are currently available in a variety of forms and usages.
It’s not just weed (or ganja, or reefer … ok, there are a bunch of nicknames for marijuana so let’s move on).
Cannabinoids are now available in formats including oils, sprays, capsules, and more.
The forms of cannabinoids available will differ state by state, and under federal law, many forms are still illegal if the THC content is greater than 0.3%.
So it’s still normal for individuals to be very careful about cannabinoids.
The issue is that the full magnitude of the possible risks and consequences associated with cannabis use over an extended time period is still unclear.
One instance is the new information about how cannabinoids affect your hearing.
Cannabinoids and hearing loss
Cannabinoids are believed to be beneficial for a wide range of health issues and medical conditions.
Some studies suggest that cannabinoids might relieve nausea, vertigo, seizures, and other symptoms.
So researchers decided to find out if cannabinoids could assist with tinnitus, too.
While studies are continuing, cannabis usage could also potentially affect your hearing:
- High Blood Pressure: One of the possible side effects of using cannabis is an increase in blood pressure.
Chronic high blood pressure can harm blood vessels throughout the body, including those in the inner ear. This can result in hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). - Ototoxicity: Some compounds found in cannabis may be harmful causing hearing issues and ringing in the ears as a result of their ototoxic nature.
Cannabinoid use can undoubtedly lead to the development of tinnitus.
Based on the research, more than 20% of study participants who used cannabinoid products reported hearing a ringing in their ears.
And, these participants had never experienced tinnitus symptoms before the study. Additionally, marijuana users were 20-times more likely to report having tinnitus symptoms after 24 hours.
Further studies have indicated that using marijuana might worsen the ringing experience associated with tinnitus in people who already cope with this condition.
Put simply, there’s some very solid evidence that tinnitus and cannabinoids don’t really mix all that well.
How cannabinoids make tinnitus worse
Cannabinoids can worsen your tinnitus in a few specific ways.
To begin with, the occurrences of tinnitus symptoms can become more regular, you might notice the buzzing or ringing in your ears more frequently.
Additionally, using cannabinoids might worsen your tinnitus episodes, leading to louder and more relentless ringing that can be harder to disregard.
Cannabinoids have also been shown to lead to the beginning of tinnitus symptoms.
Or, said another way: after you start employing cannabinoids you could develop tinnitus symptoms even if you didn’t notice them before.
The underlying cause of tinnitus remains unclear
Though we acknowledge the link between tinnitus and certain triggers, we have yet to determine the precise underlying causes.
Cannabinoids may influence the middle ear and symptoms of tinnitus, but it still remains uncertain why.
Obviously, research will continue to be carried out.
As we get a better sense of how cannabinoids are connected to tinnitus, individuals will have the information needed to make an informed decision on which form of cannabinoid to pick.
caution:
There’s been no lack of marketing hype involving cannabinoids in recent years.
A major factor is the shifting public opinion regarding cannabinoids, which also echoes an increasing interest in exploring alternatives to opioids.
But this new research makes it evident that cannabinoids can and do give rise to some adverse repercussions, particularly if you’re concerned about your hearing health.
Tinnitus and cannabinoids are unmistakably connected based on existing research.
So regardless of how much marketing you see for CBD oils, if you’re worried about tinnitus, you should probably steer clear of them.
With the strong connection between cannabinoids and tinnitus, it’s a smart plan to exercise caution.
If you are experiencing tinnitus or hearing loss, don’t wait to schedule a hearing exam, your hearing health is so essential.