A doctor explains why people who hear what they describe as a ‘heartbeat’ in their ears should consider having it checked.
Keep reading to learn more.
Hearing ringing in your ears is not at all unusual. It can result from various things, from having been to a very loud concert or having someone shout in your ear.
However, if the ringing is more persistent, it could be a sign of something much more serious, which might need medical attention.
One in every three people is said to be experiencing ‘whooshing’ sounds in their ears because they are suffering from pulsatile tinnitus (PT).
Someone with tinnitus ‘may hear steady ringing, buzzing, hissing, whistling or other noises’, and the sensation ‘can present all the time or come and go’ according to a website on the topic.
“The volume of the noises heard can vary from one episode to the next,” the site explains.
Those who have PT say that the sound becomes more intense when their heart rate increases but when their heartbeat is at its normal tempo, it is not as bad.
Dr Ahmed Abd Elbary says that these symptoms, however, in some situations be a sign of something more concerning.
The expert, who has a TikTok account with the name @Dra_says says, “Sometimes, your blood flow can become more turbulent, and the most common causes for this are things like aneurysms and atherosclerosis [the narrowing of the arteries].”
He adds, “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 tumor.”
The doctor reassures his audience by saying most tumors found are benign but you should still have it checked out by a medical professional to rule out any possibilities of something being amiss.
“Most of the time, [these are] benign and nothing to worry about, but it’s definitely something you want to get checked out – especially if it is something new or is getting worse,” Dr Ahmed says.
The doctor shared the reason for the sensations is ‘usually from a change in blood flow or a change in awareness of the blood flow of the small blood vessels inside your ear’.
There are certain things which affect blood flow more than others, and they include exercise, pregnancy, an overactive thyroid, or anaemia.
While PT often resolves on its own, if symptoms persist, seeking advice and consultation from a medical professional is recommended.
Share this with others so they can also know about what to do if they experience PT or something similar.
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