How is Hearing Health Impacted by Cannabis Use?

Researcher Taking a Few Cannabis Buds for Scientific Experiment.

The use of marijuana is now legal in a number of states for medical applications and in numerous other states for recreational usage.

Let’s have a look at what defines cannabinoids.
A particular group of substances that are found in the marijuana or cannabis plant are referred to as cannabinoids.
Some people believe that cannabinoids have extensive healing qualities, yet prevailing studies suggest that there may be adverse impacts, including a substantial link between using cannabinoids and experiencing hearing problems including hearing loss or tinnitus.

What are the different kinds of cannabinoids?

Cannabinoids are presently available in a variety of forms and applications.
Beyond its many colloquialisms, including weed, ganja, or reefer, marijuana has more comprehensive significance that exceeds its nicknames.
Cannabinoids are now available in formats including oils, sprays, capsules, and more.

The types of cannabinoids available will differ 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 very careful 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 connection 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 find out if cannabinoids could help with tinnitus, too.

While research is ongoing, cannabis usage could also potentially affect your hearing:

  • High Blood Pressure: Cannabis use can possibly bring about raised blood pressure as one of its side effects.
    Continual high blood pressure can damage blood vessels throughout the body, including those in the inner ear. This can result in hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
  • Ototoxicity: Some of the chemicals in cannabis may be ototoxic, meaning they are harmful to the inner ear. This can also lead to hearing loss and tinnitus.

Yes, tinnitus can be induced by cannabinoid use.
Studies have shown that more than one out of five individuals who ingested cannabis-based products disclosed experiencing tinnitus, characterized by a consistent ringing sound in the ears.
Before the study, the participants did not experience any signs of tinnitus. Furthermore, individuals who used marijuana were significantly more prone to reporting tinnitus symptoms within 24 hours.

Additional studies have indicated that using marijuana might worsen the ringing experience linked to tinnitus in people who already cope with this condition.
Simply put, research reveals that tinnitus and cannabinoids may not be a great combination.

The potential negative impact of cannabinoids on tinnitus symptoms

Cannabinoids can worsen your tinnitus in a few concrete ways.
At first, incidents of tinnitus symptoms might happen more often, and the persistent buzzing or ringing sound in your ears might become increasingly noticeable.
Additionally, using cannabinoids might aggravate your tinnitus episodes, leading to louder and more persistent ringing that can be harder to disregard.

Cannabinoids have also been shown to lead to the onset of tinnitus symptoms.
Basically, starting to employ cannabinoids might result in the inception of tinnitus symptoms, even if you did not experience them before.

It’s still not clear what actually causes tinnitus

Though we acknowledge the connection between tinnitus and particular triggers, we have yet to identify the distinct underlying reasons.
Cannabinoids can have an effect on the middle ear and symptoms of tinnitus. But what’s triggering that impact is a lot less clear.

Obviously, research will continue to be conducted.
People will be prepared to make a practical decision regarding which of the many types of cannabinoids to pick from as we obtain deeper insight into their connection to tinnitus.

The solution that’s too good to be true

There’s been no lack of advertising hype involving cannabinoids in recent years.
A key factor is the shifting public opinion regarding cannabinoids, which also demonstrates an increasing interest in exploring alternatives to opioids.
But this new research makes it clear that cannabinoids can and do give rise to some unfavorable consequences, specifically if you’re worried about the health of your hearing.

Tinnitus and cannabinoids are unmistakably connected based on existing research.
So regardless of how much marketing you see for CBD oils, if you’re worried about tinnitus, you should most likely steer clear of them.
It’s worth being careful when the link 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 essential.

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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