Why do i feel blood pumping in my ear

But the underlying causes of pulsatile tinnitus can be a little more intricate:. Pulsatile tinnitus is most often temporary. You might get a rather severe ear infection, for example, and that infection could cause conductive hearing loss which, in turn, creates your pulsatile tinnitus. Still, if the symptoms linger, if the thump-whump is keeping you up at night, it might be worth talking to a specialist.

And if the problem ends up being hearing related, a hearing specialist will be able to provide specific treatments designed to help mitigate your symptoms. For some people, pulsatile tinnitus will have no discernible cause—so learning how to manage the sounds and the possible distraction and discomfort the thump-whump may cause will be the best way forward.

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When blood is flowing quickly, such as during strenuous exercise or pregnancy, it makes more noise. Severe anemia or an overactive thyroid gland may also cause general increased blood flow in the body. Sometimes, blood flow increases in just one or one group of vessels.

Tumors in the head and neck can lead to the development of abnormal blood vessels, which can result in pulsatile tinnitus.

The majority of tumors associated with pulsatile tinnitus are benign, meaning they are not cancerous. Atherosclerosis , or hardening of the arteries, makes the insides of the blood vessels lumpy. This leads to a turbulent and louder blood flow. If someone is suffering from a condition causing conductive hearing loss , such as a perforated eardrum or secretory otitis media glue ear , they tend to be more aware of sounds from inside their body.

People can also experience a heightened sensitivity in their auditory pathways, meaning the brain is alerted to normal noises in the blood vessels that it would usually ignore. A condition called benign or idiopathic intracranial hypertension can cause pulsatile tinnitus, as well as headaches and sight problems. It is unclear what causes the condition, but young and middle-aged women who are overweight are most at risk.

They will also ask whether a person has experienced any other symptoms of hearing loss or has been taking medications that list tinnitus as a side effect.

They will examine the inside and outside of the ear to check for problems that might be easy to treat, such as an infection or excess earwax. In people with pulsatile tinnitus, doctors may suggest that they have additional tests, such as an MRI or ultrasound scan , to study the blood vessels and check the pressure inside the head. Anemia can be treated with medication or blood transfusions.

Secretory otitis media may be treated with a tympanostomy tube, or grommet. Perforated eardrums can be closed with grafts, and narrowed segments of an artery can be repaired. If caused by a specific blood vessel, doctors may or may not be able to repair it, depending on where the vessel is located. If there are no medical interventions, a person can try several self-management techniques, including:. Sound therapy, also called sound enrichment, was originally developed as a form of distraction.