Many states now permit the use of marijuana, THC, or cannabinoid materials for medicinal perposes, and quite a few states have legalized marijuana for recreational purposes.
So, what are cannabinoids?
A particular group of substances that are found in the marijuana or cannabis plant are referred to as cannabinoids.
Cannabinoids are sometimes believed to possess extensive healing qualities, but established research suggests there may also be adverse effects like a strong link between cannabinoid use and the development of hearing loss or tinnitus symptoms.
How many kinds of cannabinoids are there?
Cannabinoids are currently available in a variety of formats and applications.
Beyond its many nicknames, like weed, ganja, or reefer, marijuana has more comprehensive value that exceeds its nicknames.
Oils, mists, pills, and other forms of cannabinoids are currently obtainable.
Depending on the state, and in accordance with federal regulations, various types of cannabinoids will be available, while numerous varieties remain prohibited if their THC concentration exceeds 0.3%.
So it’s still common for individuals to be very careful about cannabinoids.
The problem is that we don’t presently understand some of the lasting side effects or consequences of cannabinoid use.
For example, new findings demonstrate how cannabinoids can affect your hearing ability.
Cannabinoids and hearing loss
A wide variety of ailments and medical conditions are believed to be helped by cannabinoids.
Some studies indicate that cannabinoids may relieve nausea, vertigo, seizures, and other symptoms.
So researchers decided to see if cannabinoids could help with tinnitus, too.
While research is ongoing, cannabis usage could also potentially affect your hearing:
- High Blood Pressure: Cannabis use can possibly lead to increased blood pressure as one of its side effects.
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 of the compounds in cannabis might be ototoxic, meaning they are harmful to the inner ear. This can also result in hearing loss and tinnitus.
Cannabinoid use can indeed result in the development of tinnitus.
Based on the research, more than 20% of study subjects who used cannabinoid materials reported hearing a ringing in their ears.
Prior to the study, the individuals involved did not experience any signs of tinnitus. Furthermore, people who used marijuana were dramatically more prone to documenting tinnitus symptoms within 24 hours.
Additional studies have suggested that using marijuana may worsen the ringing experience associated with tinnitus in individuals who already cope with this condition.
Simply put, research reveals that tinnitus and cannabinoids may not be a good mix.
The potential negative impact of cannabinoids on tinnitus symptoms
Cannabinoids can worsen your tinnitus in a few specific ways.
At first, episodes of tinnitus symptoms might happen more often, and the constant buzzing or ringing sound in your ears might become increasingly obvious.
Additionally, employing cannabinoids may intensify your tinnitus episodes, resulting in louder and more relentless ringing that can be more difficult to disregard.
Cannabinoids have also been found to bring about the onset of tinnitus symptoms.
Or, said differently: after you start employing cannabinoids you could develop tinnitus symptoms even if you didn’t have them before.
It’s still not clear what actually causes tinnitus
While we observe a relationship between tinnitus and specific triggers, we’re still unsure what the actual underlying causes are.
Cannabinoids can have an impact on the middle ear and tinnitus symptoms. But what’s producing that impact is much less clear.
Of course, research will continue to be conducted.
As we get a better understanding of how cannabinoids are linked to tinnitus, individuals will have the knowledge necessary to make an informed choice on which type of cannabinoid to pick.
The miracle cure beware
There’s been no lack of marketing hype involving cannabinoids in recent years.
That’s mostly because opinions are transforming about cannabinoids (and, to a degree, is also a sign of a desire to move away from opioids).
But this new research makes it obvious that cannabinoids can and do bring about some unfavorable repercussions, especially if you’re worried about the health of your hearing.
Research has established an obvious link between tinnitus and cannabinoids.
So regardless of how much marketing you see for CBD oils, if you’re concerned about tinnitus, you should probably avoid them.
With the strong connection between cannabinoids and tinnitus, it’s wise to exercise caution.
If you are experiencing tinnitus or hearing loss, you shouldn’t wait to schedule a hearing assessment, your hearing health is so important.