Pulsatile Tinnitus

Pulsatile Tinnitus Causes And The Approach Towards Treatment

People say that you are in love when you start muttering to yourself - 'I can hear the bells!' They say that this is ever most true when the ringing in your ear is in sync with your heartbeat. But if you keep hearing a swooshing rhythmic pattern in your ear, pulsating in tune with your heartbeat, you should be more wary. This might not be love, but pulsatile tinnitus.

The Main Causes Of Pulsatile Tinnitus

Pulsatile tinnitus creates fake 'rumblings' of the heart. Another name for pulsatile tinnitus is vascular tinnitus as it most likely has something to do with your circulatory system. In pulsatile tinnitus, the blood does not flow as freely as it should to the head and neck. This is either due to a constriction or tightening of the blood vessel thus less blood than the usual is being moved in and out of the heart; or, that there is an increased blood flow gushing through the vessel. So what one continually hears in pulsatile tinnitus is this disturbed flow of blood.

There are many causes of pulsatile tinnitus and listed here are some of the major ones:

• The first is called arterial sounds. This occurs when there is an unusual gathering of veins and arteries in the cranial cavity that stimulates the auditory nerve thus bringing about the pulsatile tinnitus condition.

• Middle ear tumor that blocks or hinders the flow of blood is another cause of pulsatile tinnitus. These kinds of tumors are known by many names and are usually called glomus tumors. Such tumors are often benign in nature.

• Pulsatile tinnitus may occur when there is an accumulation of fluid in the middle ear which causes spasms. This can also be accompanied by a sense of pressure and pain is often experienced in such a condition.

• When the middle ear is inflamed or infected, there is a high chance that there will be an increase in blood flow to the inflamed tissues within the ear. The sound that you hear is that of the increase in blood flow.

• Venous sound can be heard in the ear when there is an increase in blood flow in the jugular vein which is the biggest vein located in the neck. This usually happens to those who are anemic, pregnant or people with a thyroid problem.

The Approach Towards Treatment Of Pulsatile Tinnitus

The cure is to find the cause of the pulsatile tinnitus and to treat the same. This may range from atherosclerosis to tumors and even hypertension. It is common knowledge that a disturbance in the blood flow causes less oxygen being delivered to the brain which may lead to a host of brain complications including a stroke.

What is needed therefore is to seek medical attention for your pulsatile tinnitus condition immediately. Your doctor will prescribe tests to find the root cause for the disturbance in the blood flow. This may consist of x-rays, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and other advanced testing. It is better to undergo the tests as prescribed by your doctor in order that a diagnosis may be obtained and treatment for your pulsatile tinnitus started.

Pulsatile tinnitus is not something that you can push aside to the back of your mind. The pulsating sound in your ear may actually be signaling an underlying medical condition that needs to be uncovered and treated. Seek the cause of your pulsatile tinnitus today to prevent potentially severe consequences from occurring.

Ringing In Ears