Doctor says 'only one thing' can prevent 'scromiting' - as horrifying cannabis side effect revealed
Hospitals in the US have been experiencing a surge in patients suffering from 'scromiting' - a brutal side effect to smoking marijuana.
Yes, it's as awful as it sounds, and a doctor has revealed that there's only one way to prevent it.
For those unfamiliar with 'scromiting,' it's not an actual medical term but a nickname for a blindsiding, sickening agony in the stomach region that chronic potheads can experience.
While smoking weed is often thought of as a relaxing experience to take the stress off your day, this condition is quite the opposite.
Advert
It's actual name is cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), which is described by Cleveland Clinic as cycles of excruciating nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain that can come out of the blue after using cannabis for a long time.
And if you hadn't yet worked it out, 'scromiting' is a word to describe a mix of 'screaming' and 'vomiting'.
It usually happens within 24 hours of a person smoking, but can last as long as several days.
To make matters worse, it can also suddenly strike again at any time, even after symptoms have initially subsided.
And unfortunately, no leaders in the field, nor the patients themselves, have been able to pin down with any certainty exactly how this unsettling sensation can suddenly come on.
It also remains unclear why it only affects some weed-smokers, but not others.
So, is there a way to avoid 'scromiting' if you're a regular cannabis smoker? In short, the answer in no, unless you're lucky enough to not be effected by it in the first place.
Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, explained: "Symptoms often develop in phases, beginning with mild nausea or abdominal discomfort, then progressing to intense vomiting and severe pain, before resolving if cannabis use stops.
"Many patients report that hot baths or showers can temporarily relieve the symptoms, which is a distinctive feature of the condition."
She added: "There is no specific test for CHS, so diagnosis is usually made by taking a detailed history, recognising the pattern of symptoms, and ruling out other causes of vomiting and abdominal pain.
"Management is primarily supportive, with hydration and anti-nausea medication during acute episodes."
Wylie explained that in some individual cases, treatments such certain anti-psychotic drugs or topical measures, have helped, but 'there is no universally accepted therapy'.
The bad news is, the doctor said: "The only reliable way to stop CHS and prevent it from returning is to cease cannabis use completely. Resuming use almost always leads to recurrence of symptoms."
So essentially, if you're suffering from a horrific case of 'scromiting,' the only thing you can really do is kick the smoking habit.
However, Wylie added that from a clinical perspective, it's 'important to avoid assuming that all cannabis users will develop CHS'.
She assured: "The condition remains under-recognised, and misdiagnosis can occur because the symptoms are similar to those of other gastrointestinal conditions.
"While CHS can be severe and distressing, it is uncommon and preventable through abstinence from cannabis. Patients experiencing severe vomiting, dehydration, or weight loss should seek medical attention rather than trying to manage the condition at home."
Madison Burgess