Are you sick of cannabis? Have you got CHS?

It's reported that in the UK some 1.2 million people are regular smokers of cannabis every week.

However, a large number of people fail to comprehend or grasp the health risks that are involved with using this recreational drug. 

Martin Preston is an addiction specialist at the Private Rehab Clinic Delamere, offers an explanation concerning the risk of developing cannabis hyperemesis syndrome and the negative effects it can have on the body. 

What is cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS)?

Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome is a condition which can cause recurring bouts of abdominal pain, dehydration, intense nausea and persistent vomiting. The frequent vomiting can occur as often as five times per hour and the sufferer can also experience weight loss as a result of this. 

The three phases of CHS 

Prodromal phase

Abdominal pain and morning nausea are common in the prodromal phase and is most frequently seen in individuals who have used cannabis from a young age. 

Hyperemetic phase

This phase lasts around 24 to 48 hours, in which a person can expect recurrent vomiting and nausea. Individuals sometimes restrict their food in this period in an attempt to keep their stomach empty and avoid more sickness.

Recovery phase

When an individual is in the recovery phase their symptoms will lessen over the space of a couple days and stopping the use of cannabis will help the symptoms completely disappear.

Who is most at risk of getting CHS ?

Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome is developed as a result of long-term cannabis use, with most of those individuals using it at least once a week. The risk of developing the syndrome is also increased further if a person has used the drug since their adolescence. 

How to relieve the symptoms of CHS?

Hot baths or showers 

When a person is suffering from CHS, receptors in the body lead to an increased blood flow towards the gut, that increases abdominal pain. A hot shower or bath can usually help to relieve this, as when hot water reaches the blood vessels close to the skin dilate, it moves the blood in the body to another area. 

Rehydration 

Due to recurring bouts of vomiting a person with cannabis hyperemesis syndrome can often suffer from severe dehydration. Staying hydrated with lots of water or in more serious cases an IV is necessary to help relieve symptoms. 

Proton-pump inhibitors

This type of medication is used to reduce the production of stomach acid in the body and treat stomach inflammation. This can improve abdominal pain significantly as it works to neutralise the stomachs acidity. 

Psychoactive medication

Sedative medications like benzodiazepines can also be used to treat cannabis hyperemesis, as it decreases the activation of cannabinoid type 1 receptor in the frontal cortex. The tablets have an anxiety-reducing effect and lessen the anticipation of nausea and vomiting.

How to cure cannabis hyperemesis syndrome?

Whilst there are medications and methods that can help to alleviate the symptoms of cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, to fully recover and experience no effects of the condition, the individual will need to quit the use of cannabis indefinitely. 

Please note That's Health is extremely grateful for the author off this blog post, Martin Preston and Delamare, for bringing the problems of CHS to our attention and giving us the opportunity to spread this information to our readers. 

For more information or for professional help/treatment please visit this link

https://delamere.com/addiction-treatment/drugs/cannabis-addiction

(Image courtesy of Pixabay and cheifyc)