If you or someone you know is experiencing CHS symptoms, including persistent vomiting and dehydration, seek medical attention immediately. To learn more about emergency care at Duke Health, visit emergencymedicine.duke.edu. First, doctors treating people with CHS advise them to stop using marijuana. During the hyperemesis stage, doctors focus on preventing dehydration chs illness and stopping the symptoms of nausea and vomiting. One 2018 study found that 32.9% of self-reported frequent marijuana users who’d gone to the emergency room (ER) had symptoms of CHS. And a 2022 Canadian study found that ER visits for CHS-related problems had increased 13-fold between 2014 and 2021.

• When you use weed, these compounds bind to cannabinoid receptors found in your brain, digestive tract (gut), and certain cells in your body.
• Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) is a highly concentrated cannabis extract rich in THC.
• For that reason, it is recommended that anyone suffering from this condition avoids CBD products as well as THC products.
• Please feel free to share this with a friend or loved one who may be experiencing any of these symptoms and finding it difficult to put their finger on what is happening.
• The NJ Violent Death Reporting System links data from multiple sources into a single standardized record of a violent death.

Managing Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) Going Forward

If you’ve tried to quit weed in the past but found it too difficult, this might be a sign of a deeper marijuana addiction. In that case, seeking a structured detox or addiction treatment program may be vital for lasting health. During this period, you can vomit as often as five times in a single hour. These vomiting bouts feel relentless and severe, and over-the-counter medications rarely help.

CHS Phases

• You’ll likely undergo a physical exam, and your doctor might ask questions like how often you use cannabis, how long you’ve been using, and what patterns you notice about your nausea.
• BALTIMORE — An illness linked to chronic marijuana use is sending people to emergency rooms as cannabis legalization continues to spread across the country.
• In one small study of eight patients hospitalized with CHS, four of the five who stopped using weed recovered from CHS.
• While CHS is a serious illness that all cannabis consumers should be aware of, it’s important to keep in mind that if you consume cannabis in moderation, your risk for developing CHS is extremely low.

Still, the condition may remain under-reported, especially in places where discussing marijuana use is less accepted. If you’ve been using cannabis heavily and suspect your ongoing stomach issues might be related, honesty with your healthcare provider is key to getting a correct diagnosis. However, one study indicated that over 32% of people who identified as frequent marijuana users and visited an emergency department met the criteria for CHS.

Surge in THC potency since the 1980s

It is characterized by Halfway house episodes of nausea and vomiting, which may be relieved by hot baths and showers or by discontinuing cannabis use. Very little is known about this condition, including its causes, but researchers hypothesize that an oversaturation of cannabinoid receptors in the body could lead to these complications. Others suspect that certain pesticides used in cannabis cultivation might be the cause. Community Health Systems is one of the nation’s leading healthcare providers. Developing and operating healthcare delivery systems in 35 distinct markets across 14 states, CHS is committed to helping people get well and live healthier. As cannabis legalization continues to spread across the country, doctors are sounding the alarm about the potential health risks of the quickly changing drug.

Additionally researchers have pointed to overstimulation of CB1 or TRPV1 receptors – leading the body to reduce the amount of those receptors – as a possible mechanism for CHS. While these are all just theories, they make sense with what we know about cannabis and its impact on the human body. But there are a number of theories about why cannabis could lead to CHS. These symptoms can be severe and difficult to manage, seriously impacting someone’s quality of life and ability to function.

If you feel like you are struggling through the effects of CHS, how do you approach an accurate diagnosis and get to the bottom of it? Honestly, if you’re using cannabis products and going through the cycles I’ve described, you may already know what you need to know. CHS causes recurring nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain in regular cannabis users. It’s often misdiagnosed, misunderstood, and can lead to years of suffering before the real cause is identified. Research on CHS is limited and the causes of CHS are not fully understood.