Marijuana Accused Of Causing An Aggressive Illness
Most people wouldn’t think that marijuana would make you violently ill, but some have developed s serious condition after consuming high concentrations of cannabinoids over an extended period of time. This rare but concerning illness has been reported far more often with the legalization of marijuana in many states along with higher potency and greater variety of cannabis products from vaping to edibles.
The mystery illness can be almost undetectable by physicians, and often misunderstood as a neurological or phycological disorder in otherwise healthy individuals. This illness is medically called CHS – Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome.
Statistics from one Canadian study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that CHS diagnosis in the ER 13 times more likely from 2014 to 2021. Symptoms for this illness include dehydration, vomiting, shaking, elevated heart rate, abdominal pain and doctors can assume there is a neurological disorder.
A patient who was otherwise healthy and only 33-years old was struck down with a severe mystery illness. She was using cannabis multiple times a day. She began complaining of symptoms that were dismissed by physicians after being in the hospital for two weeks. They couldn’t find anything wrong. Shortly after, she learned about CHS, and declared a self diagnosis.
“Given the prevalence of cannabis use worldwide, the very recent recognition of CHS and the small amount of CHS literature, it is likely that this disease is underrecognized and underdiagnosed, according to a series of case studies published by the Mayo Clinic.
According to Dr. Sam S. Torbati , co-chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Cedars-Sinai, says “that one challenge with patients is that sometimes they believe that their use of marijuana is helping them.” He also stated, “We know that in patients with cancer, marijuana actually reduces nausea and vomiting, so for many patients, understanding that for them this is a poison, is a tough pill to swallow.” Because of that misperception and a lack of tests for diagnosis, CHS is often overlooked or misdiagnosed.
Dr. Torbati, indicates that “to really cure them of this condition, those that are affected, need to stop smoking.” If you or someone you know needs help quitting Marijuana, go to americanaddictioncenters.org
