A doctor has warned that hearing a rhythmic sound in the ear, known as pulsatile tinnitus (PT), may be a sign of health issues ranging from benign causes to more serious ones.
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This condition occurs when the sound a person hears coincides with their heartbeat and is caused by changes in blood flow or increased awareness of blood flow near the ear.
Dr. Ahmed Abdel Bari, who has over 326,000 followers on TikTok, confirmed that this condition is usually not dangerous but requires medical consultation, especially if it persists or worsens.
He explained that diagnosis typically starts with a comprehensive physical examination, listening to the blood vessels in the heart and neck, and conducting a hearing test.
The doctor may also recommend a blood test, as low levels of vitamin B12 or iron can lead to pulsatile tinnitus.
In some cases, advanced imaging, such as MRI, CT scans, or ultrasound, may be required.
Dr. Abdel Bari pointed out that this phenomenon could be caused by an increase in blood flow due to:
Intense physical exercise.
Pregnancy.
Hyperthyroidism.
Anemia.
However, he warned that pulsatile tinnitus could be a sign of more serious problems, such as: aneurysms, atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), or tumors affecting blood flow.
He clarified that tumors linked to this phenomenon are usually benign but require careful medical monitoring.
According to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), an aneurysm occurs when the wall of a blood vessel weakens, causing it to balloon under the pressure of blood flow, similar to a balloon inflating.
This bulging can happen anywhere in the body, but is most common in the brain and the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the body.
Brain aneurysms often do not cause symptoms unless they rupture, leading to a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a very serious condition that can cause brain damage.
Symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm include:
Sudden, severe headache.
Stiff neck.
Sensitivity to light.
Nausea and vomiting.
Dr. Abdel Bari explained that some cases of pulsatile tinnitus are due to an increased awareness of blood flow inside the ear, which can occur as a result of hearing loss.
He added, "When a person becomes less aware of surrounding sounds, the sound produced by blood flow can become more noticeable."
