Are You Suffering From Any of These Symptoms as a Result of Tinnitus? Call Today for a Consultation.
■ Mild to severe anxiety
■ Depression
■ Insomnia
■ Negative thinking
■ Triggered fight or flight
■ Crying spells
■ Hopelessness
■ Ringing in the ears
■ Suicidal thoughts
Are you growing more isolated? Do you feel like life will never be the same? Are you refraining from activities that you enjoy? Are you fearful of losing your job? Do you find that your thoughts tend to be negative?
If you answered yes to 3 or more of these questions or symptoms, then we can help. You may be a candidate for Tinnitus Cognitive Retraining Therapy, or TCRT.
With over 20 years of clinical experience, Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R developed Tinnitus Cognitive Retraining Therapy and founded the Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ in response to the growing number of Tinnitus sufferers coming to his private practice.
He discovered that by helping people to retrain and reinterpret the thoughts around their Tinnitus, anxiety and depression symptoms began to improve. But even more important so did the Tinnitus.
What Is Pulsatile Tinnitus? Tinnitus is one of many complicated conditions that require considerable time before experts can fully understand it. While the condition could be a standalone issue, it could be an underlying symptom of a completely different condition.
Furthermore, since there are different categories, the ringing in an individual’s ear could also result from a rare form of tinnitus, like pulsatile tinnitus.
Here, we will go over symptoms and potential causes of this type of tinnitus.
What Is Pulsatile Tinnitus?
First, it is important to properly understand pulsatile tinnitus before moving on to its many symptoms and causes. Unlike most other types of tinnitus, the pulsatile variant has a ringing noise that syncs with their heartbeats. The sound itself could be loud or soft, but it always syncs with an individual’s heartbeat.
Furthermore, it is not necessary for people with this rare tinnitus to only hear a ringing sound. Some have even described it as a whooshing sound. But similarly to other types of tinnitus, the pulsatile variant is likely a symptom of a much larger condition.
Individuals could be experiencing this tinnitus because of damage to the inner ear, some form of vascular disease, or an early sign of tumors in some rare cases. That’s why it’s crucial that you get in touch with a doctor as soon as you experience any symptoms that seem alarming.
How Does Pulsatile Tinnitus Affect the Body?
This form of tinnitus can significantly affect a person’s ability to focus on tasks or even sleep properly. Even if the ringing is soft, it can still affect an individual’s ability to sleep, work, or interact with people. A common side effect for some people is depression and lack of proper sleep.
Lack of proper sleep is especially harmful to individuals, as it can lead to stress which can worsen the ringing, making it even more difficult for people to sleep.
Common Symptoms of Pulsatile Tinnitus
Unfortunately, pulsatile tinnitus is a very personal condition, making it difficult for loved ones and family members to tell what is wrong. Therefore, it is up to the individual to spot tinnitus symptoms and find relevant help immediately.
The most common symptoms are very distinct ringing or whooshing sounds. While the sound itself could be soft or loud, it will always be in sync with the individual’s heartbeat. Although it is common to hear one’s heartbeat, especially during intense exercise, that is not the case with the pulsatile form of tinnitus. This sound is especially prominent at night when there are very few external sounds to block out the noise inside the ear. Pulsatile tinnitus symptoms can often be very distracting, often interfering with people’s lives.
Despite being rare, physicians can often find out if pulsatile tinnitus results from some underlying health condition. Some major causes can include the following:
Blood Vessel Malformations and Disorders
Pulsatile tinnitus is often the result of malformations that can form near the ears. These abnormalities can include arteriovenous malformations or even aneurysms.
High Blood Pressure
Another very common cause for pulsatile tinnitus is high blood pressure, which itself can be caused due to multiple factors. Caffeine and alcohol consumption can be especially dangerous since they can spike blood pressure, increasing tinnitus symptoms.
Pulsatile Tinnitus Causes & Symptoms: Conclusion
Pulsatile tinnitus can be difficult to deal with, especially how personal it can sometimes be. If you have been experiencing these symptoms, even momentarily, you should contact Dr. Katz us at the Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ in New York today to book a convenient online session.
Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R 646-213-2321
What are the main pulsatile tinnitus causes? Tinnitus is a hearing condition in which the affected person hears sounds that do not exist in their surrounding environment. You may experience ringing in the ear(s) or head when you have tinnitus. However, the quality, type, frequency, and loudness of the sound vary from person to person.
For example, some people also complain about hearing clicking, buzzing, whistling, and hissing sounds. Although tinnitus is usually more noticeable in situations with low background noises, some people experience loud ringing throughout the day.
Tinnitus can also be steady or pulsating and constant or intermittent. Pulsatile tinnitus refers to tinnitus associated with a pulsating sensation in the ears.
What is Pulsatile Tinnitus
People suffering from pulsatile tinnitus hear rhythmic whooshing, throbbing, or thumping sounds in one or both ears. Although some people hear tinnitus inside their heads, others also hear distant ringing sounds. In the case of pulsating tinnitus, the pulsating sounds are usually loud and noticeable in the head.
This makes pulsatile tinnitus quite annoying and uncomfortable, affecting your quality of life. On the other hand, adults with severe pulsatile tinnitus often complain about the sounds being intense to the point that they cause pain. This condition can especially cause sleeping troubles for patients as tinnitus becomes more prominent in quiet environments. Pulsatile tinnitus also makes it difficult to focus, reducing your productivity.
Although pulsatile tinnitus usually goes away, it is a good idea to undergo a medical evaluation.
Pulsatile Tinnitus Causes
While regular tinnitus is not as serious, pulsatile tinnitus can pinpoint a health problem. Some conditions that cause pulsatile tinnitus include:
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure conditions can both trigger and worsen your pulsatile tinnitus. It causes a change in blood flow, while other factors like stress and alcohol or caffeine consumption can make the pulsating noise more noticeable.
Irregular Blood Vessels:
Irregular blood vessels refer to damaged or bent vessels in or near the brain and ear. Blood flowing through damaged vessels can change the pressure in your ear, and hence the noise. A narrowed or kinked carotid artery or jugular vein can trigger pulsatile tinnitus.
Atherosclerosis:
Atherosclerosis is a hardening of arteries due to cholesterol and fat buildup in the blood vessels. As these substances clog your arteries, they become less flexible and more prone to the risk of atherosclerosis. Blood flows with a greater force inside hardened arteries, producing sound. This usually causes pulsatile tinnitus in both ears.
Other Conditions
Blood flow in conditions like severe anemia or an overactive thyroid gland can also cause your blood to flow more quickly and loudly. So, you might experience sounds similar to water running through hard pipes.
On the other hand, tumors and head and neck injuries can also press on your blood vessels to create noise. Sometimes, conditions like arteriovenous malformation can also trigger pulsatile tinnitus in one of your ears.
Pulsatile Tinnitus Treatment Plans
As we already mentioned earlier, pulsatile tinnitus can indicate other health conditions. So, your treatment plan will largely depend on the cause of your condition. While some only need medications, others might require a surgical repair of blood vessels.
The sound should stop after being treated for your health condition, causing pulsatile tinnitus. If you still experience tinnitus, the following treatment options should help.
White noise: You can get a machine that creates white noise to help eliminate the ringing sounds at nighttime. Or, you can also use a smartphone application or your fan and AC.
Wearable sound generators: Wearable sound generators look similar to hearing aids. This helps create constant background noise to make the ringing less noticeable.
Tinnitus retraining therapy: This treatment involves using a device that plays music for tuning out the tinnitus.
Pulsatile Tinnitus Causes & Treatment: Conclusion
The Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ in New York offers the best treatment services for tinnitus. Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R offers excellent tinnitus retraining therapy to his patients.
Call today for an expert consultation
Tinnitus Cognitive Center ™ Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R 19 West 34th Street Penthouse Floor New York, NY 10001
What is pulsatile tinnitus? Tinnitus is a common medical disorder that refers to experiencing an unusual ringing or buzzing sound in one or both years, often simultaneously. In this medical disorder, there is no external source of the ringing and buzzing sounds, making it an internal physical condition. Often, people might hear sounds similar to singing and music. Following that, we will discuss pulsatile tinnitus in this article. As the name may suggest, it refers to hearing unusual noises internally without any external source of production that are often rhythmic to your pulse.
Before we get down to how you identify the reason behind it or search for treatment options, we should learn about Pulsatile tinnitus in detail. It’s a sequence of unusual and disturbing sounds that are similar to whooshing, throbbing, thumping, and other rhythmic sound patterns. If you hear these sounds more frequently than normal, you might be at risk for lack of concentration (even during the day) and lack of sleep at night.
Pulsatile tinnitus differs from other generic forms of tinnitus due to the rhythmic and intense ringing/buzzing in the ear. However, it may also be a sign or symptom of an underlying medical issue. While it can go away on its own in some people, others require a detailed medical evaluation to assess the health risks that they are vulnerable to.
What Causes Pulsatile Tinnitus?
Dissimilar to the generic causes of regular forms of tinnitus, doctors and specialists usually point out specific types of health problems that may cause pulsatile tinnitus. Here are some of them.
Abnormal Blood Pressure: Disturbance in the blood flow can affect your blood vessels, their condition, and your heart rate. All this can make unusual rhythmic sounds more noticeable.
Overactive Thyroid Glandular Disorder/Chronic Anemia: this leads to a high blood flow throughout the body.
Neck and Head Tumors: Tumors can degrade the blood vessels while also pressuring them, leading to more noises.
Abnormal Blood Vessels: This common issue refers to blood flowing through damaged or severely kinked vessels in the area surrounding the ear and brain. The resulting pressure can increase the intensity and frequency of the internal noise.
Atherosclerosis: In this condition, your blood vessels harden to an undesirable level due to the buildup of fat and cholesterol. Hence, blood has to move with increased force through these clogged vessels. Blood flowing through these vessels near your ear can cause Pulsatile tinnitus.
Arteriovenous Malformation: Malformation and irregular connection between veins and arteries can lead to noises.
How Do You Recognize Pulsatile Tinnitus? Symptoms
To better understand this medical sound disorder, you should know the clear and most common signs and symptoms. The noises can often sound like a beat or steady rhythm in one or both of your ears. While this form of tinnitus is a rare one, it can affect your lifestyle to a large extent.
You may hear sounds that no one else seems to acknowledge. What’s more, you are never aware of when and how long the noise will continue. As the name suggests, the sounds and noises appear to be in beat and rhythm with your pulse. Here are common signs and symptoms of a rare underlying form of tinnitus.
Hearing Loss
Vision problems
Buzzing
Dizziness
Whooshing and whistling sounds
Headaches
Treatment Options for Pulsatile Tinnitus
Medications and Prescription Drugs
Normally, prescription drugs don’t solve the condition and cure it. However, they may help in alleviating symptoms of the condition to a great extent. This way, you can resume daily activities with minimal interferences.
These sounds and noises are nearly incurable, which means you may experience pulsatile tinnitus for a long time. Over time, you may be able to get a grip over the noises and sounds of this condition. But if the noises such as ringing or buzzing become intensely disturbing and persistent, your healthcare provider might suggest noise suppressing devices, such as white noise machines, masking devices, hearing aids, and so on.
Behavioral Treatments
This treatment option looks at a different approach to helping people with tinnitus. Despite finding a cure for this condition, this treatment option focuses on how an affected person perceives unusual sounds of pulsatile tinnitus. Behavioral treatments build a progressive mindset which helps in rethinking and re-perceiving the disturbing sounds. As this treatment reconstructs your perception and how you comprehend these sounds, they may start to bother you lesser than before. The two most common behavioral treatment options include:
Are you suffering from pulsatile tinnitus? Now might be a good time to seek medical attention in case of any light or expected symptoms. Early detection paves the way to early recovery. This can prevent the manifestation of severe lifestyle complications.
