Numerous states now allow the utilization of marijuana, THC, or cannabinoid compounds for medicinal applications, and quite a few states have legalized marijuana for recreational use.
So, what are cannabinoids?
A specific group of substances that are found in the marijuana or cannabis plant are known as cannabinoids.
Some people strongly believe that cannabinoids have extensive healing properties, yet prevailing studies suggest that there may be unfavorable impacts, including a substantial link between the use of cannabinoids and experiencing hearing issues like hearing loss or tinnitus.
How many kinds of cannabinoids exist?
Cannabinoids are now available in a variety of formats and usages.
It isn’t merely weed (or ganja, or reefer … ok, there are a lot of nicknames for marijuana so let’s move ahead).
Cannabinoids are now available in formats consisting of oils, sprays, capsules, and more.
The forms of cannabinoids available will vary state to state, and under federal law, many types are still illegal if the THC concentration is more than 0.3%.
So it’s not uncommon for people to remain very cautious of cannabinoids.
The issue is that the full extent of the possible risks and repercussions related to cannabis use over an extended period remains not clear.
For example, new findings show how cannabinoids can impact your ability to hear.
Exploring the connection between cannabinoids and hearing impairment
A wide variety of health problems and medical conditions are believed to be helped by cannabinoids.
Seizures, nausea, vertigo, and more seem to be helped by cannabinoids, according to some studies.
So scientists decided to see if cannabinoids could assist with tinnitus, too.
Continuing research suggest that making use of cannabis could have an impact on your auditory health.
- High Blood Pressure: Cannabis use can possibly lead to increased blood pressure as one of its side effects.
Persistent elevated blood pressure has the potential to harm blood vessels in various regions of the body, including those within the inner ear. Consequently, this damage can result in hearing impairment and the sensation of ringing in the ears known as tinnitus. - Ototoxicity: Some of the compounds in cannabis might be ototoxic, meaning they are toxic to the inner ear. This can also result in hearing loss and tinnitus.
Yes, tinnitus can be triggered by cannabinoid use.
Based on the research, more than 20% of study subjects who used cannabinoid materials 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 document experiencing tinnitus symptoms after 24 hours.
Additional research suggested that marijuana use may worsen ear-ringing symptoms in individuals who already cope with tinnitus.
Put simply, research suggests that tinnitus and cannabinoids might not be a good combination.
The potential negative impact of cannabinoids on tinnitus symptoms
There are a number of tangible ways in which cannabinoids can make your tinnitus experience even more difficult.
Initially, incidents of tinnitus symptoms might occur more frequently, and the persistent humming or ringing sound in your ears might become increasingly obvious.
Additionally, employing cannabinoids might exacerbate your tinnitus episodes, leading to louder and more persistent ringing that can be more difficult to ignore.
Cannabinoids have also been shown to bring about the onset of tinnitus symptoms.
Or, said differently: after you begin using cannabinoids you could experience tinnitus symptoms even if you didn’t notice them before.
The underlying cause of tinnitus remains uncertain
While we observe a connection between tinnitus and specific triggers, we’re still unsure what the actual root causes are.
Cannabinoids may influence the middle ear and symptoms of tinnitus, but it’s still unclear why.
Obviously, research will continue to be carried out.
As we gain a better sense of how cannabinoids are linked to tinnitus, people 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 surrounding cannabinoids in recent years.
That’s partially because perceptions are changing about cannabinoids (and, to a degree, is also an indication of a desire to shift away from opioids).
But this new research makes it evident that cannabinoids can and do bring about some unfavorable repercussions, especially if you’re concerned about the health of your hearing.
Tinnitus and cannabinoids are definitely connected based on present research.
So no matter how much advertising you see for CBD oils, if you’re concerned about tinnitus, you should probably avoid them.
It’s worth being cautious when the link between cannabinoids and tinnitus has been so well established.
If you are experiencing tinnitus or hearing loss, don’t wait to schedule a hearing exam, your hearing health is so important.