How is Hearing Health Affected by Cannabis Use?

Researcher Taking a Few Cannabis Buds for Scientific Experiment.

The use of marijuana is now legal in many states for medical applications and in several 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 considered to possess universal healing qualities, but established research suggests there might also be adverse effects such as a solid link between cannabinoid usage and the advancement of hearing loss or tinnitus symptoms.

How many types of cannabinoids exist?

Cannabinoids are currently available in a variety of forms and usages.
Beyond its many colloquialisms, including weed, ganja, or reefer, marijuana has more comprehensive value that exceeds its nicknames.
Oils, mists, pills, and other forms of cannabinoids are currently obtainable.

Depending on the state, and in accordance with federal regulations, various forms of cannabinoids will be available, while several varieties remain prohibited if their THC concentration exceeds 0.3%.
So it’s not unusual for people to remain quite wary of cannabinoids.

The issue is that the full extent of the possible risks and repercussions related to cannabis use over an extended time period remains unclear.
One instance is the new information about how cannabinoids impact your hearing.

Investigating the relationship between cannabinoids and hearing loss

A wide range of health problems and medical conditions are believed to be benefited by cannabinoids.
Some research suggest that cannabinoids might alleviate nausea, vertigo, seizures, and other symptoms.
Researchers then investigated whether cannabinoids might also provide relief for tinnitus sufferers.

Ongoing studies suggest that making use of cannabis could have an effect on your auditory health.

  • High Blood Pressure: Cannabis use can possibly lead to increased blood pressure as one of its side effects.
    Persistent elevated 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 impairment and the feeling of ringing in the ears known as tinnitus.
  • Ototoxicity: Some compounds found in cannabis may be hazardous causing hearing problems and ringing in the ears as a result of their ototoxic properties.

Using cannabinoids can undoubtedly result in the progression of tinnitus.
Based on the research, over 20% of study participants who used cannabinoid materials documented hearing a ringing in their ears.
And, these participants had never experienced tinnitus symptoms before the study. Additionally, marijuana users were 20-times more likely to report having tinnitus symptoms after 24 hours.

Further studies have indicated that using marijuana may intensify the ringing sensation associated with tinnitus in people who already experience this condition.
In other words, there’s some really solid evidence that tinnitus and cannabinoids don’t really combine very well.

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.
Initially, episodes of tinnitus symptoms might happen more often, and the persistent humming 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 more difficult to disregard.

Cannabinoids have also been shown to bring about the onset of tinnitus symptoms.
Or, said another way: after you start using cannabinoids you could develop tinnitus symptoms even if you didn’t have them before.

It’s still not well understood what actually causes tinnitus

While we acknowledge a relationship between tinnitus and specific triggers, we’re still unclear what the actual root causes are.
Cannabinoids may affect the middle ear and symptoms of tinnitus, but it’s still unclear why.

Obviously, research will continue to be conducted.
Individuals will be equipped to make a practical decision concerning which of the many types of cannabinoids to select from as we obtain deeper insight into their link to tinnitus.

The solution that’s too good to be true

Cannabinoids have garnered substantial attention and publicity in the market over the past few years.
That’s partially because perceptions are changing about cannabinoids (and, to a degree, is also a sign of a desire to move away from opioids).
However, new research has shed new light on the potential drawbacks of cannabinoids, especially for people who value their hearing health, showing that these substances can have adverse effects on hearing.

Research has established a clear link 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 strong 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.

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.

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