Questions have been raised over a sudden surge in 'scromiting' - a health condition which has seen record numbers of cannabis smokers in the United States admitted to the ER.
According to medics, this side effect of marijuana consumption is sporadically affecting hordes of potheads, with many being forced to hand over several thousand dollars for treatment.
The health woe is defined by a blindsiding, sickening agony in the stomach region that comes out completely out of the blue, as well as several other gut-wrenching symptoms.
The tricky thing is, however, that neither leaders in the field, nor the patients themselves, have been able to state with any certainty exactly how this unsettling sensation can suddenly come on. On top of this, it remains unclear to this day why it only affects some weed-smokers, but not others.
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Here's everything we know so far about 'scromiting', and how experts say it can be avoided...
What is 'scromiting'?
When referenced in the medical field, 'scromiting' - a mix of 'screaming' and 'vomiting' - is actually known as cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, or CHS.
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Apparently, an increasing number of cannabis-smokers are finding themselves in A&E with this condition, suffering a seemingly never-ending bout of nausea, which is usually followed by stomach pain and extreme vomiting, as often as four to five times per hour.
This pain and sickness usually comes on within 24 hours of a smoker lighting up, and in the most severe cases, can last up to several days.
And according to emergency room medics, this occurrence is far from a one-off, with the same patients being affected with between three and four episodes per year.
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On a long-term basis, however, on top of the vomiting, patients can suffer several secondary symptoms, like damage to both the oesophagus and the teeth, malnutrition and dehydration.
"A person often will have multiple [emergency department] visits until it is correctly recognised, costing thousands of dollars each time," Dr Beatriz Carlini, a University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine research associate professor, explained.
This is because, in many cases, when a smoker's symptoms have finally eased up after avoiding pot for a while, they forget how frustrating the condition can be, and as such, they take up smoking once again.
And then, guess what happens? The 'scromiting' starts again.
Who is most likely to be affected?
As we say, what has reportedly left medics stumped, is that this sudden sickness is seemingly striking down smokers on a sporadic basis.
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Whilst it was originally believed that 'scromiting' was only a condition that impacted long-term weed-consumers - or those who've smoked for over 10 years - according to Sunrise Detox, an alarming number of cases of CHS are being recorded in teenagers.
"It’s become evident this condition can manifest in all age levels," the rehab facility website explains. "And not every individual who consumes marijuana, even for extended periods, gets CHS.
"The reasons behind the syndrome remain puzzling to doctors."
What do doctors think is causing 'scromiting'?
The leading theory on the trigger for CHS is long-term overstimulation of receptors in the endocannabinoid system - a collection of neurotransmitters linked to vital bodily functions like cognition, memory and immunity - as a result of smoking.
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That's because this can get in the way of the body’s natural control of nausea and vomiting, prompting an extreme version of both.
How can it be treated?
Unsurprisingly, 'scromiting' is largely considered by medics to be pretty difficult to both diagnose and treat, due to the number of unanswered questions linked to the condition.
No therapies for this ailment have been FDA-approved as of yet, and commonplace anti-nausea medications have proven somewhat ineffective across the board.
Despite this, some doctors have forged theories over things that can possibly ease the amount of pain being suffered by patients, with hot baths and showers often being recommended, including by an emergency medicine specialist at UW Medicine and Seattle Children’s Hospital, Dr Chris Buresh.
"That’s something that can clinch the diagnosis for me, when someone says they’re better with a hot shower," he admitted. "Patients describe going through all the hot water in their house."
What doctors recommend long-term CHS-sufferers do to protect themselves, however, is undergo a full-fledged marijuana detox
Rhianna Benson