The utilization of marijuana is currently legal in a number of states for medical applications and in numerous other states for recreational usage.
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 frequently believed to possess extensive healing qualities, but established research suggests there could also be adverse impacts such as a strong connection between cannabinoid use and the progression of hearing loss or tinnitus symptoms.
What are the different forms of cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are currently available in a variety of formats and usages.
It’s not merely weed (or ganja, or reefer … ok, there are a bunch of nicknames for marijuana so let’s move ahead).
Oils, mists, pills, and other forms of cannabinoids are currently obtainable.
Depending on the state, and in accordance with federal regulations, different forms of cannabinoids will be available, while several varieties remain prohibited if their THC concentration exceeds 0.3%.
So it’s still common for individuals to be very cautious about cannabinoids.
The issue is that the full extent of the possible risks and consequences related to cannabis use over an extended time period is still not clear.
One instance is the new data about how cannabinoids affect your hearing.
Cannabinoids and hearing loss
Cannabinoids are believed to be helpful for a variety of health problems and medical conditions.
Seizures, nausea, vertigo, and more seem to be helped by cannabinoids, according to some studies.
Researchers then explored whether cannabinoids might also provide reprieve for tinnitus sufferers.
While studies are ongoing, cannabis use could also potentially affect your hearing:
- High Blood Pressure: One of the possible side effects of cannabis use is an increase in blood pressure.
Prolonged elevated 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 cause hearing impairment and the feeling of ringing in the ears known as tinnitus. - Ototoxicity: Some of the chemicals in cannabis may be ototoxic, meaning they are toxic to the inner ear. This can also result in hearing loss and tinnitus.
Using cannabinoids can certainly lead to the development of tinnitus.
According to the research, more than 20% of study subjects who used cannabinoid products documented hearing a ringing in their ears.
Prior to the study, the participants did not experience any signs of tinnitus. Additionally, individuals who used marijuana were substantially more prone to documenting tinnitus symptoms within 24 hours.
Additional research indicated that marijuana use might exacerbate ear-ringing symptoms in individuals who already deal with tinnitus.
In other words, research indicates that tinnitus and cannabinoids might not be a great combination.
The potential negative impact of cannabinoids on tinnitus symptoms
There are a couple of tangible ways in which cannabinoids can make your tinnitus experience worse.
At first, incidents of tinnitus symptoms may happen more often, and the constant humming or ringing sound in your ears may become increasingly noticeable.
Also, your bouts of tinnitus can become more severe when you’re employing cannabinoids. More extreme ringing that can be harder to disregard can be the outcome.
Cannabinoids have also been shown to bring about the beginning of tinnitus symptoms.
Or, said another way: after you start using cannabinoids you could experience tinnitus symptoms even if you didn’t have them before.
The underlying cause of tinnitus remains unclear
While we acknowledge a link between tinnitus and certain triggers, we’re still uncertain what the actual underlying causes are.
Cannabinoids can have an effect on the middle ear and tinnitus symptoms. But what’s producing that impact is a lot less clear.
Clearly, research is continuing.
As we gain a better understanding of how cannabinoids are connected to tinnitus, people will have the knowledge necessary to make an educated choice on which type of cannabinoid to choose.
The solution that’s too good to be real
There’s been no lack of marketing hype surrounding cannabinoids in recent years.
That’s mostly because opinions are changing about cannabinoids (and, to a degree, is also a sign of a desire to move away from opioids).
But this new research makes it clear that cannabinoids can and do produce some negative repercussions, particularly if you’re concerned about the health of your hearing.
Studies have established an obvious connection between tinnitus and cannabinoids.
So no matter how much advertising you see for CBD oils, if you’re worried about tinnitus, you should most likely avoid them.
With the solid link between cannabinoids and tinnitus, it’s a smart plan to use caution.
If you are experiencing tinnitus or hearing loss, don’t wait to schedule a hearing test, your hearing health is so important.