Audiology & Hearing Care of SWFL - Bonita Springs, FL

Researcher Taking a Few Cannabis Buds for Scientific Experiment.

The utilization of marijuana is currently legal in many states for medical purposes 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 frequently considered to provide extensive healing qualities, but established research implies there may also be adverse effects such as a solid link between cannabinoid usage and the progression of hearing loss or tinnitus symptoms.

How many kinds of cannabinoids are there?

At present, cannabinoids can be used in many forms.
Beyond its many colloquialisms, including weed, ganja, or reefer, marijuana has broader significance that exceeds its nicknames.
Oils, mists, pills, and other forms of cannabinoids are currently obtainable.

The types of cannabinoids available will vary state to state, and under federal law, many types are still illegal if the THC content is greater than 0.3%.
So it’s not uncommon for people to remain very cautious of cannabinoids.

The issue is that we don’t presently comprehend some of the lasting side effects or consequences of cannabinoid use.
One instance is the new data about how cannabinoids impact your hearing.

Cannabinoids and hearing loss

A wide range of health problems and medical conditions are thought to be helped by cannabinoids.
Seizures, nausea, vertigo, and more seem to be helped by cannabinoids, according to some studies.
So scientists decided to find out if cannabinoids could assist with tinnitus, too.

Continuing research suggest that making use of 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.
    Prolonged high blood pressure has the potential to harm blood vessels in various parts of the body, including those within the inner ear. Consequently, this damage can cause hearing loss and the feeling of ringing in the ears referred to as tinnitus.
  • Ototoxicity: Some of the chemicals in cannabis might be ototoxic, meaning they are harmful to the inner ear. This can also lead to hearing loss and tinnitus.

Cannabinoid use can indeed lead to the progression of tinnitus.
According to the research, over 20% of study subjects who used cannabinoid products documented hearing a ringing in their ears.
And, these subjects had never had tinnitus symptoms before the study. What’s more, marijuana users were 20-times more likely to document 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.
Simply put, there’s some very strong evidence that tinnitus and cannabinoids don’t really combine all that well.

How cannabinoids make tinnitus worse

Cannabinoids can aggravate your tinnitus in a few concrete ways.
Initially, episodes of tinnitus symptoms may happen more frequently, and the persistent buzzing or ringing sound in your ears may become increasingly noticeable.
Similarly, your spells of tinnitus can become more extreme when you’re employing cannabinoids. More extreme ringing that can be harder to disregard can be the result.

The onset of tinnitus symptoms has also been linked to cannabinoids.
Or, said differently: after you begin using cannabinoids you could experience tinnitus symptoms even if you didn’t have them before.

It’s still not well understood what actually causes tinnitus

Though we recognize the connection between tinnitus and certain triggers, we have yet to identify the exact governing reasons.
Cannabinoids can have an impact on the middle ear and symptoms of tinnitus. But what’s causing that impact is far less obvious.

Of course, research will continue to be conducted.
As we acquire a better understanding of how cannabinoids are linked to tinnitus, people will have the information needed to make an informed decision on which form of cannabinoid to choose.

caution:

Cannabinoids have gotten considerable interest and publicity in the market over the past several years.
A key factor is the shifting public opinion pertaining to cannabinoids, which also demonstrates a growing interest in looking into alternatives to opioids.
But this new research makes it evident that cannabinoids can and do produce some negative repercussions, particularly if you’re worried about your hearing health.

Research has established a clear connection between tinnitus and cannabinoids.
If you have tinnitus and are concerned about it, it’s best to avoid CBD oils despite the numerous advertisements supporting 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, you shouldn’t wait to schedule a hearing assessment, your hearing health is so important.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.