What Causes Pulsatile Tinnitus?
Do you hear a rhythmical noise that tends to beat in sync with your heartbeat? This sound could be a single beat or multiple beats. It can also be a high pitched clicking sound or a low pitched thumping noise, both of which can be very disturbing and distracting. If you’re hearing this sound, don’t worry, you’re not imagining it. Although it’s not as common as other types of noises heard, it is a type of tinnitus called Pulsatile tinnitus. Only about three percent of people with tinnitus have this type but that doesn’t make it any less disturbing.
In most cases, Pulsatile tinnitus is caused by the increase or decrease of blood flow in the veins and small arteries in the regions surrounding the head and neck area. There are several medical conditions that can cause a change in blood flow which are associated with Pulsatile tinnitus. A few of these are listed below:
- Middle Ear Effusion
- Hypertension
- Benign Intracranial Hypertension
- Glomus Tumor
- Atherosclerotic Carotid Artery Disease
- Twisted Arteries
- Heart Murmur
- Intracranial Vascular Lesions
Having an abnormal artery or vein that changes the blood flow can also be the cause of this type of tinnitus.
The good news is that if you have Pulsatile tinnitus you may be able to find relief. Since this type of tinnitus is usually caused by some type of medical condition, treating the problem will often eliminate that pulsating sound that’s so disturbing.
Everyone has heard that eating a proper diet and exercising regularly is vital in maintaining good health. It also helps eliminate Pulsatile tinnitus because diet and exercise will improve the blood flow in your body, which is usually what causes this problem.
If you or someone you love suffers from Pulsatile tinnitus, talk to your doctor. You don’t have to suffer, there are tests available that’ll help get to the root of your problem. These include a CT scan, MRA, angiography, ultrasound and MRI.
Don’t put off trying to discover the cause of your Pulsatile tinnitus in fear of learning that you may have some type of serious medical problem. It could be something simple that can be treated easily and if it’s not, then you need to know. The sooner you get treated for any medical condition you may have, the easier it will be to take care of the problem so you can begin feeling better.
