Have you ever experienced a ringing or buzzing sound in your ears that only you can hear? While tinnitus is annoying and often disconcerting, thankfully, it’s usually not a serious medical problem and often resolves on its own.
But some types of tinnitus don’t resolve immediately.
About 10% of individuals with tinnitus have a rare form called pulsatile tinnitus, a rhythmic pulsing or “whooshing” sound in one or both ears. The sound can come and go throughout the day, and increase while jogging, with a change in head or neck position, or when trying to go to sleep in a quiet room.
“For most people with pulsatile tinnitus, there’s no underlying cause,” said Daniel Heiferman, MD, a neurosurgeon with Endeavor Health. “If that is the case, and the sound doesn’t bother them, they can go about living their life.”
While some people aren’t bothered by the sound, others find it debilitating. The sound can make it hard to concentrate on work or get enough sleep. Sometimes, patients can develop anxiety or depression as a result.
If the sound affects your ability to live your normal life, then it’s important to contact your doctor right away. There could be a more serious underlying medical cause that needs to be addressed for the sound to stop.
Pulsatile tinnitus usually indicates vascular issues, or problems with your veins and arteries. It can also indicate the presence of a tumor, but only rarely.
“What makes pulsatile tinnitus rhythmic is that it is in time with your heartbeat,” said Dr. Heiferman. “That’s why it can indicate an issue with your blood vessels.”
One cause of pulsatile tinnitus is a common, non-dangerous condition called venous sinus stenosis, where a blood vessel in the brain has become narrowed. Surgeons like Dr. Heiferman can treat this condition via venous stenting, a minimally invasive procedure with little pain and a quick recovery.
The surgeon inserts a stent, which is a mesh tube, through the groin or arm inside the narrowing of the blood vessel to prop it open, allow for smooth blood flow, and eliminate the sound.
“Some of the happiest patients in my neurosurgical practice are those with venous stents for truly debilitating sound,” said Dr. Heiferman. “It’s one of the most rewarding procedures we get to do.”
Some other conditions that can cause pulsatile tinnitus include:
- High blood pressure
- Blood vessel disorders or malformations
- Plaque buildup in the arteries (atherosclerosis)
- Anemia
- Head trauma
- Hyperthyroidism
These conditions can be diagnosed by a doctor and many of them can be treated or managed through medication, lifestyle changes and, in some cases, surgery.
With the right medical help, you don’t have to live with tinnitus long-term. Most patients find relief once the underlying medical cause is addressed.
“Thankfully, in most cases, pulsatile tinnitus will go away once the underlying condition is treated,” said Dr. Heiferman.
Related Articles
