Pulsatile Tinnitus

Ringing in the ears, medically referred to as tinnitus, is an annoying medical condition that disturbs the well-being of an individual. Present either in one ear or both ears, a person with tinnitus perceives abnormal sounds such as roaring, chirping, hissing and ringing. In pulsatile tinnitus, the noise is regular and coincides with the heartbeat of the patient. The symptoms may be mild to severe, acute or chronic lasting for several days to months. According to medical data, about 6 percent of the global population have severe form of tinnitus.

Pulsatile Tinnitus Causes

In majority of the patients, pulsatile tinnitus is caused due to unusual coupling of fluids in any of the blood vessels that are associated with the eardrum. The noise of increased blood flow in the arteries and veins, which are located near the inner ear is conducted to the ear, resulting in pulsatile tinnitus symptoms. In addition, people diagnosed with anemia, high blood pressure (hypertension) and hyperthyroidism manifest pulsatile tinnitus as a referred symptom.

In rare cases, pulsatile tinnitus may be a symptom of severe medical complications like vascular tumors in the middle ear, chronic middle ear infection, hardening of the arterial walls, carotid artery aneurysms and increased pressure in the head, a condition called hydrocephalus. To be more precise, pulsatile tinnitus causes are more or less related to circulatory problems, especially in the head and neck portions.

Pulsatile Tinnitus Symptoms

In case of pulsatile tinnitus, the unusual noise perceived by the patient is more rhythmic and regular than the symptoms of other tinnitus types. The most noticeable sign of pulsatile tinnitus is regular ringing in the ears, which often accompanies the heartbeat of the patient. The sound may be similar to a low-pitched booming or high-pitched snapping. Some patients do report blowing noise that tunes with respiration. Other symptoms of pulsatile tinnitus are headache, dizziness, sleep disorders and depression.

The ringing noise present in pulsatile tinnitus can be heard by doctors and other people with the help of an appropriate device. This is the reason why, pulsatile tinnitus is also known as objective tinnitus. Other forms of tinnitus, in which only the patient hears the sound, while other people cannot, is called subjective tinnitus. Pulsatile tinnitus differential diagnosis is done with the help of a stethoscope or other sophisticated devices. In order to locate the troubled spots, the physician may perform computed tomography (CT) scanning and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).

Pulsatile Tinnitus Treatment

Pulsatile tinnitus is treated with respect to its specific cause. Unlike other severe forms of tinnitus, it is rarely followed by hearing loss. For patients who experience rhythmic ringing of ears due to heart diseases, treating the underlying medical condition is imperative to combat pulsatile tinnitus. Likewise, blockage in the carotid arteries is treated by conducting a surgical procedure. Maintaining the cholesterol levels within the recommended range also help lessen the gravity of pulsatile tinnitus.

Pulsatile tinnitus is seldom serious and with multi-disciplinary treatments, complete recovery is achieved by most of the patients. Applying gentle pressure over the area, from where the sound comes, will lessen the sound intensity. In a nutshell, the options for pulsatile tinnitus treatment include medicine therapy, relaxation technique, biofeedback and other alternative measures. As a part of treatment, the doctor may also recommend regular physical activities and a good diet to improve blood circulation and lead a healthy life.