You might hear your heartbeat in your ear, a condition called pulsatile tinnitus, because of changes in blood flow near your ear.
Understanding Pulsatile Tinnitus
Pulsatile tinnitus is the perception of a rhythmic throbbing or whooshing sound in one or both ears, often synchronized with your heartbeat. This isn't a sound from outside but rather one generated within your body, usually related to blood flow in the vessels near your ear.
Causes of Hearing Your Heartbeat
Several factors can contribute to you hearing your heartbeat in your ear:
- Changes in Blood Flow: When blood flow is altered, you may become more aware of the pulse of your blood. This can be due to several factors.
- Artery Narrowing: According to the provided reference, when plaque hardens, it narrows the arteries and limits the flow of blood to the body, including in your ears, neck, or head. This restriction can cause you to hear the characteristic rhythmic thumping or whooshing sound of pulsatile tinnitus.
- Increased Awareness: In some cases, the sound may always be there, but you are only becoming more aware of it. This can happen with stress or changes in attention.
How Plaque Affects Blood Flow & Hearing
When plaque hardens in your arteries, it makes them narrower. This narrowing restricts the amount of blood that can flow through. This reduced blood flow can lead to several effects:
- Turbulence: The blood flow becomes more turbulent as it tries to push through a smaller space. This turbulence can create sounds that are audible to you.
- Proximity to Ear: Because arteries pass near the ear, particularly those in the head and neck, the altered blood flow can become noticeable as pulsatile tinnitus.
- Rhythmic Sounds: The rhythmic nature of your heartbeat, which pushes the blood through the body, causes the sound you hear to match your pulse.
Other Potential Causes of Pulsatile Tinnitus
While narrowed arteries due to plaque are one possible cause, other factors can also lead to this condition. These include:
- High Blood Pressure: Increased pressure in the blood vessels can make the pulsatile sounds more noticeable.
- Anemia: A decrease in red blood cells can lead to a change in blood flow and increased awareness of your heartbeat.
- Thyroid Problems: An overactive thyroid can cause increased blood flow, resulting in pulsatile tinnitus.
- Vascular Tumors: Though rare, some tumors near the ear can affect blood flow and cause pulsatile tinnitus.
When To See a Doctor
If you experience pulsatile tinnitus, especially if it's new or bothersome, it's important to see a doctor. They can identify the cause and suggest appropriate treatment options.
- Early Detection: Identifying the cause early may prevent further complications.
- Monitoring: Your doctor can assess your overall health and may recommend tests to check for underlying issues.
- Treatment: If it is due to plaque in the arteries your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes or other methods to address the plaque.
Summary
Hearing your heartbeat in your ear is often linked to alterations in blood flow, and one contributing factor is the hardening of plaque in arteries, which narrows the vessels and can lead to turbulent blood flow near the ear. Other factors also can contribute to the sound you're hearing.
