Pulsatile Tinnitus

Pulsatile tinnitus is experienced as a rhythmical ear noise, beating in time with your heartbeat. If you are suffering from this kind of tinnitus, the kind of noise that you hear can either be low-pitched thumping or booming, or a high-pitched clicking noise. Of the sufferers of tinnitus in general, only 3% suffer from this type.

A distinct factor about pulsatile tinnitus is that it is generally related with problems in blood flow. What happens is that when a blood vessel is narrower than the ordinary, a localized increase in blood flow takes place. Thus, the adjacent blood vessels have to carry extra blood, generating noise.

In addition, the hardening of the arteries, which is also called atherosclerosis, causes turbulent blood flow. The blood vessels then narrow, stopping blood from flowing smoothly, which generates noise. This event is much like a river running smoothly that becomes noisy when it reaches rocks.

The medical conditions that are known to cause this type of ear noise include:

1. Hypertension
2. Glomus Tumor
3. Atherosclerotic Carotid Artery Disease
4. Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs)
5. Benign Intracranial Hypertension (BIH)
6. Intracranial Vascular Lesions
7. Middle Ear Effusion
8. Venous Hum
9. Twisted Arteries

To find the appropriate treatment, first you have to seek the help of a physician and have the root cause of the rhythmic noise determined. It is for the reason that it is generally treated according to its cause. Some sufferers commit the mistake of not consulting with a physician for fear of knowing the underlying condition that they may be suffering from. As a result, they continually suffer from it.

Some tests may have to be done. There are also imaging techniques that help in the determination of the root cause. They include Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA), CT scan, ultrasound, and Carotid Artery Ultrasonography.

For example, if it is found out that the root cause is hypertension, then the appropriate treatment is medication. If the cause is blocked or narrowed arteries, on the other hand, then surgical repair is recommended. In most cases, though, you may have to undergo multi-disciplinary treatments and methods or programs om how to manage its symptoms. Drug therapy, alternative treatments, biological feed back, and relaxation therapy are the standard methods that most sufferers make use of.

The sufferers of pulsatile tinnitus must start with the basics, however. We are referring to the keeping of a balanced diet and having a regular and proper exercise to lower your cholesterol level and improve your blood circulation.