What Is Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome?

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, as the name indicates, is the condition in which excessive use of cannabis leads to repeated and severe vomiting. Hyperemesis is the term that describes severe vomiting as emesis is the medical term used for vomiting. It is a rare condition and occurs due to long term excessive use of cannabis. Marijuana is another name of cannabis. Marijuana and some other Cannabinoids are usually used to treat vomiting and nausea, but if marijuana is administered for a long term at high concentration, then it may cause opposite effects. At high concentrations, marijuana or cannabis can cause severe vomiting and nausea.

Cannabis is a plant from which marijuana and hashish are extracted. Marijuana is derived from flowers, dried leaves, seeds, and stems of the cannabis plant. Hashish is another drug derived from the concentrated resins of the cannabis Sativa female flower. There are several active substances in marijuana. The main ingredient is tetrahydrocannabinol THC and some related chemicals. These active chemicals of marijuana or cannabis have a high affinity to cross the blood-brain barrier and bind to the receptors of the brain. Due to its affinity to bind with the receptors, it leads to a high concentration of cannabis in the brain. As a result, it leads to Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.

Not only the brain, but the gastrointestinal tract also has a great affinity to bind with the molecules of cannabis. Cannabis affects the time of digestion of food and time of stomach emptying. It has a direct effect on the esophageal sphincter. This sphincter is responsible for passing food from the esophagus to the stomach. So long term use of marijuana leads to the symptoms of cannabinoids hyperemesis syndrome CHS. It is an illegal drug that is widely used in the United States. Usually, adults are addicted to it. Rare of them develop cannabinoids hyperemesis syndrome because of the extensive use of cannabis.

People who use cannabis at least once a day are more prone to cannabinoids hyperemesis syndrome. Vomiting and nausea are the symptoms of various medical problems, so diagnosis is an important part of treatment. There are no tests that are performed to check the presence of cannabis in the body. The following tests are performed.

Blood tests, pregnancy tests, electrolytes tests, urine tests, and, most importantly, drug screens. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is currently discovered, so many of the physicians don't know about it. There is another term, "cyclical vomiting disorder" most of the health care providers mix cannabinoids hyperemesis syndrome with cyclical vomiting disorder. Because the main symptom i.e., vomiting, is the same in both cases.

It is a rare condition and still under study. Sometimes it proves fatal for the health of the patient if he doesn't consult with physicians on time. The government has banned the use of cannabis or marijuana as it was becoming a major cause of death in adults. Cannabis is a strong drug. Once an adult got addicted to it, he cannot get rid of it easily. It directly affects the brain and disturbs the physiological functioning of the whole body.