The use of marijuana is currently legal in many states for medical applications and in several other states for recreational usage.
So, what are cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are categorized as a group of compounds found in the cannabis or marijuana plant.
Cannabinoids are sometimes believed to provide universal healing qualities, but established research suggests there may also be adverse effects including a solid link between cannabinoid usage and the progression of hearing loss or tinnitus symptoms.
What are the different types of cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are presently available in a variety of formats and applications.
Beyond its many nicknames, like weed, ganja, or reefer, marijuana has more comprehensive value that goes beyond its nicknames.
Cannabinoids are now available in forms consisting of oils, sprays, capsules, and more.
The forms of cannabinoids available will vary state by state, and under federal law, many types are still illegal if the THC content is more than 0.3%.
So it’s still normal for people to be really careful about cannabinoids.
The issue is that the complete magnitude of the possible risks and repercussions associated with cannabis use over an extended period remains not clear.
One example is the new data about how cannabinoids impact your hearing.
Exploring the relationship between cannabinoids and hearing loss
A wide range of ailments and medical conditions are believed to be benefited by cannabinoids.
Some studies suggest that cannabinoids might alleviate nausea, vertigo, seizures, and other symptoms.
So researchers decided to see if cannabinoids could assist with tinnitus, too.
Continuing research suggest that using cannabis could have an impact on your auditory health.
- High Blood Pressure: Cannabis use can possibly result in raised blood pressure as one of its side effects.
Chronic high blood pressure can damage blood vessels throughout the body, including those in the inner ear. This can lead to hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). - Ototoxicity: Some compounds found in cannabis may be hazardous causing hearing problems and ringing in the ears due to their ototoxic nature.
Using cannabinoids can undoubtedly result in the development of tinnitus.
Studies have revealed that more than one out of five people who consumed cannabis-based products reported experiencing tinnitus, identified by a persistent ringing sound in the ears.
And, these subjects had never had tinnitus symptoms before the study. What’s more, marijuana users were 20-times more likely to report having tinnitus symptoms after 24 hours.
Additional studies have indicated that using marijuana might exacerbate the ringing experience linked to tinnitus in individuals who already cope with this condition.
In other words, research suggests that tinnitus and cannabinoids might not be a good mix.
How cannabinoids make tinnitus worse
There are a couple of tangible ways in which cannabinoids can make your tinnitus experience worse.
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, using cannabinoids may exacerbate your tinnitus episodes, resulting in louder and more relentless ringing that can be harder to disregard.
Cannabinoids have also been shown to bring about the beginning of tinnitus symptoms.
In other words, starting to use cannabinoids may result in the onset of tinnitus symptoms, even if you didn’t experience them before.
The underlying cause of tinnitus remains uncertain
While we recognize a connection between tinnitus and certain triggers, we’re still unsure what the actual underlying causes are.
Cannabinoids can have an effect on the middle ear and symptoms of tinnitus. But what’s causing that impact is far less obvious.
Clearly, research is ongoing.
As we get a better understanding of how cannabinoids are connected to tinnitus, people will have the information necessary to make an educated decision on which form of cannabinoid to pick.
The miracle cure beware
There’s been no lack of advertising hype involving cannabinoids in recent years.
That’s mostly because perceptions are transforming about cannabinoids (and, to an extent, is also a sign of a desire to move away from opioids).
But this new research makes it obvious that cannabinoids can and do give rise to some negative repercussions, especially if you’re concerned about the health of your hearing.
Tinnitus and cannabinoids are clearly connected based on existing research.
If you have tinnitus and are worried about it, it’s best to avoid CBD oils despite the numerous advertisements marketing their benefits.
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 essential.