Pulsating in ear, also known to be pulsatile or vascular tinnitus, is a type of tinnitus which can be heard on your ears. What happens is that the patient experiences sensation in the ear as the same tempo as that of a heartbeat. This common type of sensation is caused by the blood flowing in veins and arteries and other smaller vessels in the neck, skull and ear. Even if this is uncommon condition, it still needs immediate medical attention as it may be an expression of a life threatening ailment.
The following could be causes for pulsating in ear: chronic inflammation or middle ear infection, Eustachian tube dysfunction, middle ear effusion, vascular tumors, arteriovenous malformations, carotid artery-cavernous sinus fistula and venous hum. The chronic inflammation is always accompanied by the increased blood flow to the tissue that is inflamed, and since its location is just in the ear, so it’s sensitive to hearing the increase of the blood flow. In Eustachian tube dysfunction, it’s the blockage of the tube that cases pulsating in ear. Normally, the tubes open and close as one chews, swallows, yawns, or speak, but in the event that it gets sinusitis, colds, cough, allergies or excessive earwax, this results to the blockage.
The air-filled space in the ear is called the middle ear, could be filled with fluid due to an infection, inflammation, or Eustachian tube dysfunction. This could be painful. To relieve the patient, they are prescribed with antibiotics, decongestant and nasal steroid sprays. The tumor called glomus tumors or paragangliomas, though it is not dangerous or life- threatening but could cause pulsating in ear, since the location is just near the sensitive area of hearing interiorly in the specific location. To treat this condition is to undergo a delicate surgery to remove known tumor in the ear area.
The arteriovenous malformations are the abnormal groups of arteries and veins that happen in the cranial cavity near the auditory nerve. These could pulsate in the auditory nerve, thus causing pulsating in ear. The treatment to this is usually through surgery. A severe head trauma can cause a carotid artery-cavernous sinus fistula. What happens is that the connection between a very large artery and very large venous within the cranial cavity becomes abnormal. But this could be treated non-surgically. But it may require the service of an interventional radiologist.
A reason of having pulsating in ear would be the sudden change in blood flow in arteries and veins. Those who are affected usually are the pregnant, anemic, or those with thyroid problems. What happens is that there is an increased blood flow in the largest vein located in the neck. This jugular vein transmits blood from the brain going back to the heart, and since it passes to the middle ear know found inside the ear. People who experience these conditions are advised to visit their ENT doctor as soon as possible for immediate attention.
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