The utilization of marijuana is now legal in many states for medical purposes and in several other states for recreational usage.
So, what are cannabinoids?
A specific group of substances that are found in the marijuana or cannabis plant are known as cannabinoids.
Cannabinoids are sometimes believed to possess universal healing qualities, but established research implies there could also be adverse impacts such as a solid connection between cannabinoid use and the advancement of hearing loss or tinnitus symptoms.
What are the different types of cannabinoids?
Today, cannabinoids can be used in many forms.
Beyond its many nicknames, like weed, ganja, or reefer, marijuana has more comprehensive significance that exceeds its nicknames.
Cannabinoids are now available in formats consisting of oils, sprays, capsules, and more.
The types 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 individuals to be very wary of cannabinoids.
The problem is that we don’t yet grasp some of the long-term side effects or consequences of cannabinoid use.
For example, new findings show how cannabinoids can affect your hearing ability.
Cannabinoids and hearing loss
Cannabinoids are thought to be helpful for a wide range of health issues and medical ailments.
Seizures, nausea, vertigo, and more seem to be helped by cannabinoids, according to some studies.
Scientists then investigated whether cannabinoids could also provide reprieve for people suffering from tinnitus.
Continuing studies indicate that using cannabis could have an impact on your auditory health.
- High Blood Pressure: One of the potential side effects of using cannabis is an increase in blood pressure.
Persistent high blood pressure has the potential to damage blood vessels in various regions of the body, including those within the inner ear. Consequently, this damage can cause hearing loss and the feeling of ringing in the ears known as tinnitus. - Ototoxicity: Some compounds found in cannabis could be hazardous causing hearing issues and ringing in the ears as a result of their ototoxic nature.
Yes, tinnitus can be triggered by cannabinoid use.
Studies have revealed that more than one in five individuals who ingested cannabis-based materials disclosed experiencing tinnitus, characterized by a persisting ringing sound in the ears.
Before the study, the participants did not experience any symptoms of tinnitus. Additionally, people who used marijuana were considerably more prone to documenting tinnitus symptoms within 24 hours.
Additional research suggested that marijuana use could exacerbate ear-ringing symptoms in people who already deal with tinnitus.
In other words, there’s some very strong evidence that tinnitus and cannabinoids don’t really combine very well.
The possible negative impact of cannabinoids on tinnitus symptoms
Cannabinoids can aggravate your tinnitus in a few specific ways.
First off, the incidents of tinnitus symptoms can become more regular, you might notice the buzzing or ringing in your ears more persistently.
Additionally, using cannabinoids might exacerbate your tinnitus episodes, leading to louder and more persistent ringing that can be harder to overlook.
Cannabinoids have also been found to bring about the beginning of tinnitus symptoms.
In other words, starting to use cannabinoids may lead to the inception of tinnitus symptoms, even if you did not experience them before.
It’s still not clear what actually causes tinnitus
While we observe a relationship between tinnitus and certain 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 causing that impact is far less clear.
Obviously, research will continue to be done.
As we gain a better understanding of how cannabinoids are linked to tinnitus, people will have the knowledge needed to make an informed decision on which form of cannabinoid to choose.
caution:
There’s been no lack of advertising hype involving cannabinoids in recent years.
That’s mostly because perceptions are transforming about cannabinoids (and, to a degree, is also an indication of a need to shift away from opioids).
However, new research has shed new light on the potential downsides of cannabinoids, specifically for individuals who care about their auditory health, showing that these substances can have undesirable impacts on hearing.
Tinnitus and cannabinoids are definitely linked based on existing research.
So no matter how much marketing 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 wise 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.