The use of marijuana is now legal in many states for medical applications and in several other states for recreational use.
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 considered to possess universal healing qualities, but established research suggests there might also be adverse impacts such as a solid link between cannabinoid use and the development of hearing loss or tinnitus symptoms.
How many types of cannabinoids exist?
Today, cannabinoids can be used in many forms.
It’s not merely weed (or ganja, or reefer … ok, there are a bunch of nicknames for marijuana so let’s move on).
Cannabinoids are now available in formats 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 common for people to be really cautious about cannabinoids.
The problem is that we don’t presently understand some of the long-term side effects or complications of cannabinoid use.
For example, new findings demonstrate how cannabinoids can affect your ability to hear.
Investigating the relationship between cannabinoids and hearing loss
Cannabinoids are believed to be beneficial for a variety of health issues and medical conditions.
Some studies suggest that cannabinoids might relieve nausea, vertigo, seizures, and other symptoms.
Scientists then looked into whether cannabinoids might also provide relief for people suffering from tinnitus.
While studies are ongoing, cannabis usage could also potentially affect your hearing:
- High Blood Pressure: Cannabis use can potentially result in increased blood pressure as one of its side effects.
Persistent 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 sensation 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 progression of tinnitus.
According to the research, over 20% of study participants who used cannabinoid products documented hearing a ringing in their ears.
And, these participants 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 suggested that using marijuana may intensify the ringing sensation linked to tinnitus in people who already experience this condition.
Put simply, research suggests that tinnitus and cannabinoids may not be a good combination.
The potential negative impact of cannabinoids on tinnitus symptoms
There are a couple of concrete ways in which cannabinoids can make your tinnitus experience even more difficult.
At first, incidents of tinnitus symptoms may occur more often, and the constant buzzing or ringing sound in your ears might become increasingly apparent.
Additionally, employing cannabinoids may intensify your tinnitus episodes, resulting in louder and more relentless ringing that can be harder to ignore.
The onset of tinnitus symptoms has also been linked to cannabinoids.
Or, said another way: after you start using cannabinoids you could develop tinnitus symptoms even if you didn’t notice them before.
It’s still not well understood what actually causes tinnitus
Even though we acknowledge the connection between tinnitus and specific triggers, we have yet to establish the distinct underlying reasons.
Cannabinoids might affect the middle ear and symptoms of tinnitus, but it still remains uncertain why.
Of course, research will continue to be conducted.
Individuals will be prepared to make a practical choice concerning which of the many types of cannabinoids to pick from as we acquire deeper understanding into their link to tinnitus.
The treatment that’s too good to be true
There’s been no lack of advertising hype involving cannabinoids in recent years.
A major factor is the shifting public viewpoint concerning cannabinoids, which also demonstrates a growing interest in looking into alternatives to opioids.
However, new research has illuminated the potential drawbacks of cannabinoids, particularly for people who care about their auditory health, revealing that these compounds can have adverse effects on 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.
It’s worth being careful when the connection between cannabinoids and tinnitus has been so well established.
Don’t hesitate to get a professional evaluation if you’re struggling with tinnitus or hearing problems – prioritizing your auditory health is crucial for your overall health.
