Pulsatile Tinnitus Causes, Symptoms
Pulsatile tinnitus is a rhythmic noise that you hear in the absence of any real sound around. It is the sound of your own pulse, blood flow, or heart beat which causes a ringing sound in your ears. It is due to a change in the blood flow in the large arteries and veins in the neck, back of the skull, or smaller blood vessels inside the ear. Pulsatile tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom which results from many underlying reasons. The most notable pulsatile tinnitus symptom is ringing noise that beats rhythmically with your heartbeat. The sound could be sometimes accompanied by hearing loss or dizziness. Constantly having this sound in your head may cause severe headache. An extreme feeling of dizziness (vertigo) and nausea can also be part of the pulsatile tinnitus symptoms. Some people might also complain about not getting enough sleep. People who suffer from pulsatile tinnitus may also experience depression if the severity is high.
Causes of Pulsatile Tinnitus
- Arteriovenous malformations
- Carotid artery-cavernous sinus fistula
- Chronic inflammation and/or infection of the middle ear
- Middle ear fluid
- Vascular tumors in the middle ear
- High level of cholesterol which obstructs the blood flow.
Pulsatile Tinnitus Treatment
Pulsatile tinnitus can be treated if it is related to some specific cause. Hypertension could be treated by changing your diet and regular exercise. Lowering the level of cholesterol in the blood will also help in treating pulsatile tinnitus. Regular exercise may help increase blood circulation to the head, thus reducing the symptoms of tinnitus. Try and keep your blood pressure under control by changing your lifestyle. Eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly. Treat anemia by eating iron rich foods such as prunes, raisins, green leafy vegetables, and bananas. Pulsatile tinnitus treatment generally involves a multi-disciplinary approach and symptom management methods. The majority of patients are treated with standard treatment methods such as drug therapy, relaxation therapy, and alternative treatments.
Some other things that you should keep in mind if you suffer from pulsatile tinnitus are:
- Avoid consuming spicy, fried, tinned and oily foods.
- Avoid caffeinated beverages such as tea, coffee, colas and alcohol.
- Ginkgo biloba is a good natural remedy for tinnitus of this type which improves blood circulation and decreases dizziness.
- If tinnitus results from an ear infection, you should consult a doctor and take antibiotics.
- Try and avoid getting stressed. Eat a proper balanced diet, take enough rest, and exercise regularly to manage stress.
- In some cases, surgery might be recommended if the condition is severe.
