Hearing Your Heartbeat in Your Ear? It May Be Linked to an aneurysm or Even a Tumour

Hearing a rhythmic whooshing, pulsing, or thumping sound in one or both ears, which can often be in sync with your heartbeat, can be really unsettling. Once in a while, you may even dismiss it as stress or earwax, but a medical specialist has warned it could be masking a “sinister” condition. Known medically as pulsatile tinnitus, it could signal aneurysms or tumours. Pulsatile tinnitus is extremely rare and causes a sound that often matches the rhythm of a person's pulse, potentially covering up life-threatening issues. For those who suffer, many find it mildly annoying, while others describe it as so intense and debilitating that it interferes with their ability to concentrate or relax. British specialist Dr Ahmed has explained the condition and stressed

that it is definitely “something you need to bring up with your doctor”. According to the medic, you would need to undergo an exam to first determine the cause of the issue. “It's down to a changing blood flow in the small blood vessels inside your ear. We may also refer you for a hearing test, and most people will also need some further investigations,” Dr Ahmed told his followers on Instagram.

What can cause pulsatile tinnitus?

Dr Ahmed says that, in most cases, PT would indicate conditions that directly impact blood circulation, like physical activity, high blood pressure, pregnancy, or even an overactive thyroid gland or anaemia. However, it can also be a warning sign. “Sometimes, your blood flow can become more turbulent, and the most common causes for this are things like aneurysms and atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries),” he said. “You can also get something called localised increased blood flow, which means a particular blood vessel has an increased supply to it. This most often is down to a tumour,” Dr Ahmed added.Also read: Archana Puran Singh Opens Up on Miscarriage Trauma: What It Does To a Woman's Body and Mind

How does an aneurysm lead to PT?

An aneurysm causes a "whooshing" sound in the ears, or be PT, by creating turbulent and high-pressure blood flow within a weakened, bulging artery near the ear or brain. This abnormal flow, often rhythmic with the heartbeat, creates a turbulent noise heard internally. Experts believe the widening of the artery changes the pressure and velocity of blood, leading to a distinct rhythmic sound, sometimes described as humming, thumping, or even rushing.

What does a pulsatile tinnitus actually sound like?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, pulsatile tinnitus sounds like a rhythmic swooshing or whooshing noise inside your head that often keeps pace with your pulse. It might sound like a high note from a tuning fork. This is commonly blood pulsing faster than normal through the veins and arteries near your ears. In a sense, people who have pulsatile tinnitus hear their hearts beating.

What are the symptoms you must never ignore?

Doctors advise seeking medical attention if hearing your heartbeat in your ear is accompanied by:

• Sudden or severe headaches
• Vision changes
• Dizziness or balance problems
• Hearing loss
• Neurological symptoms like weakness or numbness

How can you manage the condition?

To manage PT, you need to take prescribed medication or undergo surgical procedures, depending on the extent of the damage. White noise can also help diminish the intensity of the sound, whilst wearing sound generators creates a consistent background noise as a distraction, or tinnitus retraining therapy may help you learn to 'block out' the sound.