Have you ever heard about a mysterious illness called Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS)? It was discovered in 2004, but now scientists are claiming that this rare illness is linked to smoking weed.
Although CHS did not get much attention in past, doctors have started to identify more cases with this syndrome in recent years.
Kennon Heard, a professor of emergency medicine and medical toxicology and pharmacology at the University Of Colorado School Of Medicine told WBUR, "it's something that we're seeing more commonly in areas where marijuana use is becoming more frequent. Essentially, patients who use marijuana very frequently for long periods of time."
Kennon also mentioned that there are some marijuana addicted individuals, who visit his medical institution and the doctors have found symptoms related to CHS in their body.
Specialists said that there are some particular symptoms of this illness which they have found among weed smokers mainly.
· Severe cyclic nausea and vomiting.
· Relief of symptoms with hot showers or baths.
· Abdominal pain, epigastric or periumbilical.
· Chronic, heavy use of cannabis.
· Vomiting that recurs in a cyclic pattern over months.
According to a report by NPR, a San Diego resident named Chalfonte LeNee Queen experienced symptoms of CHS for almost more than 10 years, which doctors could not detect in initial stages. She said, "I've screamed out for death. I've cried out for my mom who's been dead for 20 years, mentally not realizing she can't come to me."
Since the symptoms are quite general and specialists are still confused about the particular disease, there is no such database which will show the total number of affected people.
However, people have tried to use traditional medication for vomiting and nausea but it did not respond well. There are two medications such as lorazepam and haloperidol which helped the affected to recover from pain. There are few more basic treatments for CHS affected people.
