The use of marijuana is currently legal in a number of states for medical applications and in several other states for recreational usage.
So, what are cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are classified as a group of compounds found in the cannabis or marijuana plant.
Cannabinoids are sometimes considered to provide universal healing qualities, but established research indicates there could also be negative effects including a strong link between cannabinoid usage and the advancement of hearing loss or tinnitus symptoms.
How many kinds of cannabinoids are there?
Today, cannabinoids can be used in many forms.
It isn’t just weed (or ganja, or reefer … ok, there are a bunch of nicknames for marijuana so let’s move on).
Cannabinoids are presently available in forms consisting of oils, sprays, capsules, and more.
The forms of cannabinoids available will differ state to state, and under federal law, many types 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 problem is that the total extent of the possible risks and consequences associated with cannabis use over an extended period remains unclear.
For instance, new findings show how cannabinoids can affect your ability to hear.
Investigating the connection between cannabinoids and hearing impairment
A large variety of health problems and medical conditions are believed to be benefited by cannabinoids.
Seizures, nausea, vertigo, and more appear to be helped by cannabinoids, according to some studies.
Scientists then investigated whether cannabinoids might also provide reprieve for people suffering from tinnitus.
Ongoing research suggest that using cannabis could have an effect on your auditory health.
- High Blood Pressure: Cannabis use can possibly lead to increased blood pressure as one of its side effects.
Continual high blood pressure can damage 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 problems and ringing in the ears due to their ototoxic nature.
Yes, tinnitus can be induced by cannabinoid use.
Research has shown that more than one in five individuals who ingested cannabis-based products disclosed experiencing tinnitus, identified by a persistent ringing sound in the 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 suggested that using marijuana may intensify the ringing experience associated with tinnitus in people who already cope with this condition.
Put simply, research suggests that tinnitus and cannabinoids might not be a great combination.
The possible negative impact of cannabinoids on tinnitus symptoms
Cannabinoids can worsen your tinnitus in a few specific ways.
At first, incidents of tinnitus symptoms may happen more often, and the constant buzzing or ringing sound in your ears might become increasingly noticeable.
Similarly, your spells of tinnitus can become more severe when you’re employing cannabinoids. More intense ringing that can be harder to dismiss can be the result.
The beginning of tinnitus symptoms has also been linked to cannabinoids.
Or, said another way: after you start using cannabinoids you could develop tinnitus symptoms even if you didn’t notice them before.
It’s still not well understood what actually causes tinnitus
While we acknowledge a link between tinnitus and certain triggers, we’re still uncertain what the actual underlying causes are.
Cannabinoids might affect the middle ear and symptoms of tinnitus, but it still remains uncertain why.
Of course, research will continue to be carried out.
People will be equipped to make a practical choice concerning which of the many forms of cannabinoids to select from as we get deeper understanding into their connection to tinnitus.
caution:
Cannabinoids have garnered substantial recognition and publicity in the market over the past several years.
That’s partially because opinions are changing about cannabinoids (and, to an extent, is also an indication of a desire to move away from opioids).
However, new research has shed new light on the potential downsides of cannabinoids, particularly for people who care about their auditory health, showing that these compounds can have adverse impacts on hearing.
Tinnitus and cannabinoids are definitely linked based on existing research.
So no matter how much advertising you see for CBD oils, if you’re worried about tinnitus, you should most likely avoid them.
It’s worth being careful when the link between cannabinoids and tinnitus has been so well established.
Don’t hesitate to get a professional assessment if you’re dealing with tinnitus or hearing difficulties – prioritizing your auditory health is essential for your total health.