If you constantly hear a pulsating or whooshing sound that goes in rhythm with your heart beat, then you must be suffering from pulsatile tinnitus. Also known as the vascular tinnitus, this form of tinnitus is often caused by poor blood circulation or disruption in the blood flow. While pulsatile tinnitus is one of the rarest forms of tinnitus, the effects it brings are equally challenging as the others.

One of the most popular types of pulsatile tinnitus is the arterial turbulence or the crimps or plaques in the arteries of the head or neck region that causes the blood to flow with a rumbling sound. This condition is made worse by hypertension. If the flow of blood is increased for some reasons or due to the narrowing down of the restricted blood flow, a turbulence sound can be heard.

The symptoms of this type of tinnitus are different from the symptoms of the continuous form of tinnitus. However, there are some unfortunate people who can experience both types and most of them agree that pulsatile tinnitus-produced sounds are the most annoying. Like other tinnitus types, this pulsatile type of tinnitus is not a disease but a symptom signaling other more serious health problems. Because the main cause of this condition is related to blood circulation, the underlying cause must be something that needs immediate medical attention. However, you shouldn’t worry much because this condition can be treated.

Aside from poor blood flow, pulsatile tinnitus may be caused by other conditions such as:

1. Arteriovenous Malformations – this occurs when the veins and arteries close to the auditory nerve of the cranial cavity become irregular in number. Because there is pulsation happening in the auditory nerve, the beating sound is produced.

2. Atherosclerosis – the pulsating sound a tinnitus patient can hear can also be caused by atherosclerosis, a condition caused by the accumulation of cholesterol on walls of the artery.

3. Benign Intracranial Hypertension – this condition occurs when the fluid that surrounds the brain experiences inflated pressure. This can lead to hearing loss that is mainly characterized by hearing beating or pulsating sound.

4. Carotid Artery-Cavernous Sinus Fistula – this condition is characterized by the joining of large veins and arteries caused mainly by massive head trauma.

5. Middle Ear Inflammation or Infection – the blood flow can elevate as a result of infection in the middle ear. The elevated blood circulation results to a pulsating or turbulent sound comparable to the turbulent sound of water flowing rapidly.

6. Hypertension – pulsatile tinnitus can be caused by taking medicines used to treat hypertension or high blood pressure. To correct this problem, the dosage of the medication may need to be lowered or the medication itself may be changed completely.

7. Glomous Tumor – this condition is also called vascular tumor which can occur at the base of the skull in the middle or inside the ear. This condition can be corrected by surgery.

As mentioned earlier, pulsatile tinnitus is not a disease but a symptom of other underlying conditions that need to be given immediate medical attention. Therefore, at the onset of the symptoms, it is a must that you consult with your healthcare provider.