The use of marijuana is now legal in many states for medical purposes and in several other states for recreational usage.
Let’s have a look at what defines cannabinoids.
Cannabinoids are categorized as a group of compounds found in the cannabis or marijuana plant.
Cannabinoids are sometimes believed to possess extensive healing qualities, but established research suggests there might also be unfavorable effects like a strong connection between cannabinoid use and the progression of hearing loss or tinnitus symptoms.
What are the different forms of cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are now available in a variety of forms and usages.
Beyond its many nicknames, such as weed, ganja, or reefer, marijuana has broader value that goes beyond its nicknames.
Cannabinoids are presently available in forms consisting of oils, sprays, capsules, and more.
The types of cannabinoids available will vary state to state, and under federal law, many forms are still illegal if the THC concentration is more than 0.3%.
So it’s not uncommon for individuals to be quite cautious of cannabinoids.
The issue is that we don’t yet grasp some of the long-term side effects or consequences of cannabinoid use.
One instance is the new data about how cannabinoids impact your hearing.
Exploring the relationship between cannabinoids and hearing loss
Cannabinoids are believed to be helpful for a wide range of health problems and medical conditions.
Some research indicate that cannabinoids might alleviate nausea, vertigo, seizures, and other symptoms.
So scientists decided to see if cannabinoids could help with tinnitus, too.
While research is ongoing, cannabis use could also potentially affect your hearing:
- High Blood Pressure: Cannabis use can potentially lead to increased blood pressure as one of its side effects.
Prolonged high blood pressure has the potential to damage blood vessels in various parts of the body, including those within the inner ear. As a result, this damage can lead to hearing impairment and the feeling of ringing in the ears referred to as tinnitus. - Ototoxicity: Some substances found in cannabis could be harmful causing hearing problems and ringing in the ears due to their ototoxic nature.
Yes, tinnitus can be induced by cannabinoid use.
Based on the research, more than 20% of study participants who used cannabinoid products reported hearing a ringing in their ears.
And, these subjects had never experienced tinnitus symptoms before the study. What’s more, marijuana users were 20-times more likely to document having tinnitus symptoms after 24 hours.
Additional research revealed that marijuana use could worsen ear-ringing symptoms in individuals who already deal with tinnitus.
In other words, there’s some very strong evidence that tinnitus and cannabinoids don’t really mix very well.
How cannabinoids make tinnitus worse
Cannabinoids can intensify your tinnitus in a few specific ways.
Initially, episodes of tinnitus symptoms may occur more frequently, and the persistent humming or ringing sound in your ears might become increasingly apparent.
Similarly, your bouts of tinnitus can become more extreme when you’re using cannabinoids. More extreme ringing that can be harder to disregard can be the result.
The beginning of tinnitus symptoms has also been linked to cannabinoids.
In other words, beginning to use cannabinoids may lead to the onset of tinnitus symptoms, even if you did not experience them previously.
The root cause of tinnitus remains unclear
While we recognize a link between tinnitus and specific triggers, we’re still unsure what the actual root causes are.
Cannabinoids can have an impact on the middle ear and tinnitus symptoms. But what’s causing that impact is much less obvious.
Of course, research will continue to be done.
People will be equipped to make a practical choice concerning which of the many forms of cannabinoids to choose from as we acquire deeper understanding into their link to tinnitus.
The solution that’s too good to be real
There’s been no lack of advertising hype surrounding cannabinoids in recent years.
That’s mostly because perceptions are transforming about cannabinoids (and, to a degree, is also a sign of a need to shift away from opioids).
But this new research makes it obvious that cannabinoids can and do bring about some negative repercussions, particularly if you’re concerned about the health of your hearing.
Research has established an obvious connection between tinnitus and cannabinoids.
So no matter how much marketing you see for CBD oils, if you’re worried about tinnitus, you should probably steer clear of them.
It’s worth being careful when the connection 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.