A constant ringing or roaring in your ears could indicate a problem. That problem's name is tinnitus, but there are different types of tinnitus. Pulsatile tinnitus is a ringing or roaring in the ears that sounds like it comes in waves or has a heartbeat of it's own. Some days it is worse than others, and nighttime can be aggravating. If you experience pulsatile tinnitus, you should visit your physician and possibly a cardiovascular specialist.
Diagnosing the Problem
Unlike continuous tinnitus, which is usually caused by a form of nerve damage, pulsatile tinnitus' causes lie in some form of blood flow restriction or narrowing of one of the many blood vessels. It is important to narrow down the cause to make sure that there is no serious underlying culprit. A physician will likely perform a series of tests to find out what is causing this bothersome ailment. Mostly, your physician will perform a physical examination along with imaging scans of your head and neck. Not all cases of pulsatile tinnitus can be narrowed down to a certain cause, but evaluation and treatment can improve how you cope with it. One common cause is turbulence of blood flow, meaning that there may be a partially closed blood vessel or weakening of the vessel wall that is causing blood flow to back up. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is another common cause of pulsatile tinnitus and can normally be remedied with medication and change in diet and exercise routine. Other causes include, plaque in the carotid artery, which in some cases could lead to stroke; vascular tumors, which are usually benign but in rare cases can be cancerous; spasms or contractions of the middle ear, which literally move the eardrum and middle ear infections.
Treatment Options
Depending on the cause of your pulsatile tinnitus, there are treatment options available. Most options are non-invasive and can require medication. In some cases, surgery may be needed. Surgical procedures such as angioplasty (inserting a small balloon into the partially closed vein to open it up and allow proper blood flow), and inserting a stent into the affected vessel can drastically improve your hearing if the cause is a blood flow restriction. Antibiotics can help with the fluid build up and swelling if the cause of your pulsatile tinnitus is an inner ear infection, just as blood pressure medications can help should you have hypertension that is the cause. Discuss treatment options with your doctor and don't get discouraged if not all of them seem to work; stick with your treatment plan as laid out by your healthcare practitioner. There is no known cure for pulsatile tinnitus but with treatment and proper medical care, you can drastically reduce symptoms .
What You Can Do at Home
Along with your medical treatment,there are steps you can take at home to manage your pulsatile tinnitus. First, try to reduce and eliminate stress in your life. Stress tends to make tinnitus symptoms worse, as it causes blood pressure to rise. Watch what you eat. Some foods and additives can also worsen symptoms. Avoid artificial sweeteners, sugar, caffeine, salt, alcohol, and tobacco as these can aggravate your condition. Find a support group or put one together for people with tinnitus, to give each other that much needed morale boost and helpful insight. Make sure your family and friends are aware of your condition and understand what it is and means to them as well as to you. They are your biggest supporters and safety net, so be sure to keep them involved. Keep a positive attitude, and don't let your tinnitus get you down. As with all conditions, you will have some good and some bad days; the key is determination to make it through whatever comes your way.
