Cannabis Use and Hearing Health

Researcher Taking a Few Cannabis Buds for Scientific Experiment.

Many states currently allow the use of marijuana, THC, or cannabinoid compounds for medicinal perposes and quite a few states have legalized marijuana for recreational purposes.

Let’s take a look at what characterizes cannabinoids.
Cannabinoids are classified as a group of compounds found in the cannabis or marijuana plant.
Cannabinoids are frequently believed to provide extensive healing qualities, but established research suggests there could also be adverse impacts like a strong connection between cannabinoid use and the progression of hearing loss or tinnitus symptoms.

How many types of cannabinoids exist?

Cannabinoids are currently available in a variety of forms and usages.
It isn’t merely weed (or ganja, or reefer … ok, there are a lot of nicknames for marijuana so let’s move on).
Oils, mists, pills, and other forms of cannabinoids are currently obtainable.

Depending on the state, and in accordance with federal regulations, different forms of cannabinoids will be available, while numerous varieties are still prohibited if their THC concentration exceeds 0.3%.
So it’s still normal for people to be really cautious about cannabinoids.

The issue is that the full extent of the possible risks and repercussions associated with cannabis use over an extended period remains not clear.
One instance is the new information about how cannabinoids impact your hearing.

Cannabinoids and hearing loss

A wide variety of health problems and medical conditions are believed to be benefited by cannabinoids.
Seizures, nausea, vertigo, and more appear to be helped by cannabinoids, according to some studies.
So scientists decided to see if cannabinoids could assist with tinnitus, too.

While studies are continuing, cannabis usage could also potentially affect your hearing:

  • High Blood Pressure: One of the possible side effects of cannabis use is an increase in blood pressure.
    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 lead to hearing loss and the sensation of ringing in the ears referred to as tinnitus.
  • Ototoxicity: Some compounds found in cannabis may be hazardous causing hearing issues and ringing in the ears as a result of their ototoxic nature.

Yes, tinnitus can be caused by cannabinoid use.
Based on the research, over 20% of study participants who used cannabinoid materials reported hearing a ringing in their ears.
Before the study, the individuals involved did not experience any signs of tinnitus. Additionally, people who used marijuana were substantially more prone to documenting tinnitus symptoms within 24 hours.

Further studies have suggested that using marijuana may worsen the ringing experience associated with tinnitus in individuals who already cope with this condition.
Simply put, there’s some really strong evidence that tinnitus and cannabinoids don’t really combine all that well.

The possible negative impact of cannabinoids on tinnitus symptoms

There are a couple of tangible ways in which cannabinoids can make your tinnitus experience even more difficult.
At first, incidents of tinnitus symptoms may happen more often, and the persistent humming or ringing sound in your ears may become increasingly obvious.
Additionally, using cannabinoids may exacerbate your tinnitus episodes, resulting in louder and more relentless ringing that can be harder to ignore.

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

It’s still not well understood what actually causes tinnitus

Though we acknowledge the connection between tinnitus and specific triggers, we have yet to ascertain the exact governing reasons.
Cannabinoids can have an impact on the middle ear and tinnitus symptoms. But what’s triggering that impact is much less obvious.

Obviously, research is continuing.
As we get a better sense of how cannabinoids are connected to tinnitus, people will have the knowledge necessary to make an informed choice on which form of cannabinoid to choose.

caution:

Cannabinoids have garnered substantial attention and publicity in the market over the last few years.
A major factor is the shifting public viewpoint pertaining to cannabinoids, which also demonstrates an increasing interest in exploring alternatives to opioids.
But this new research makes it clear that cannabinoids can and do bring about some unfavorable consequences, specifically if you’re worried about your hearing health.

Research has established an obvious link between tinnitus and cannabinoids.
So no matter how much advertising you see for CBD oils, if you’re concerned about tinnitus, you should probably steer clear of them.
It’s worth being careful when the connection between cannabinoids and tinnitus has been so solidly 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.