Pulsatile tinnitus is a type of tinnitus condition wherein a person keeps hearing a whooshing or pulsating sound that thumps in tune with the heart beat. This condition is also called vascular tinnitus because it is commonly caused by blood flow disruption or poor blood circulation. pulsatile tinnitus is not very common; however, the struggles an afflicted person has to go through are quite challenging.
There are different types of pulsatile tinnitus and one of the most prevalent is a condition called arterial turbulence. This is caused by restricted flow of blood that causes crimps or plaques in the arteries along the region of head and neck. The condition can worsen when the affected person suffers from high blood pressure. When this occurs, the body experiences an increased blood flow which causes the production of turbulence sound in the ears.
The symptoms of this type of tinnitus are different from the symptoms of the continuous form of tinnitus. However, there are some unfortunate people who can experience both types and most of them agree that pulsatile tinnitus-produced sounds are the most annoying. Like other tinnitus types, this pulsatile type of tinnitus is not a disease but a symptom signaling other more serious health problems. Because the main cause of this condition is related to blood circulation, the underlying cause must be something that needs immediate medical attention. However, you shouldn’t worry much because this condition can be treated.
Other underlying health conditions that can cause pulsatile tinnitus include:
1. Arteriovenous Malformations – an irregular number of arteries and veins that occur near the cranial cavity’s auditory nerve. The beating sound is actually caused by the pulsation occurring in the auditory nerve.
2. Atherosclerosis – this condition is caused by the buildup of cholesterol on the artery wall. This causes the artery to constrict thereby causing turbulent blood flow responsible for the turbulent sound an afflicted individual can hear.
3. Benign Intracranial Hypertension – this condition refers to the inflated pressure of fluid surrounding the brain. One of the symptoms of this condition is hearing loss marked by pulsating or beating sound in the ears.
4. Carotid Artery-Cavernous Sinus Fistula – this condition results from massive head trauma. It involves the abnormal merging of the large artery and large veins.
5. Infection or chronic inflammation of the middle ear – this condition causes the blood flow to increase. When this occurs, the blood flow causes a turbulent sound, similar to rapid flow of water.
6. Hypertension – one of the major causes of pulsatile tinnitus is the intake of hypertension medications. The condition can be corrected either by changing the medicine or lowering the dosage.
7. Glomous Tumor – also identified as vascular tumor that occurs inside or just below the ear. Surgery is often advised to correct this condition.
As discussed in this article, pulsatile tinnitus signals other more severe or serious health conditions. To make sure you don’t experience the symptom anymore, the underlying conditions probably causing it must be addressed and treated.


