On social media, many viewers were stunned as experts warned that hearing a ‘heartbeat’ in your ear could signal a deadly condition.
A warning about pulsatile tinnitus
Medical experts are warning about a specific ear symptom that could indicate a life-threatening condition. If you hear a rhythmic pulsing or ‘heartbeat’ sound in your ear, it may not be harmless.
Most people have experienced ringing in their ears at some point.
Loud concerts or sudden noise exposure can cause temporary ringing. However, persistent pulsing sounds could be a sign of something more serious.
A woman’s experience with pulsatile tinnitus
On social media, a user known as @dra_says shared a TikTok video warning about pulsatile tinnitus in response to a woman’s experience with the condition.
A woman recently shared her experience on TikTok.
She described hearing a ‘whooshing’ noise in her ear. Her doctor suggested it could be linked to an aneurysm.
Dr. Ahmed Abd Elbary responded to her video. He advised that anyone experiencing this symptom should consult a doctor. Ignoring the sound could lead to serious health consequences.
What is pulsatile tinnitus?
Dr. Ahmed explained that the condition is called pulsatile tinnitus (PT). Unlike regular tinnitus, which causes constant ringing, PT creates rhythmic thumping or throbbing sounds.
According to Penn Medicine, PT often has an identifiable cause. It may be the first sign of an underlying health issue. While sometimes benign, it should not be ignored.
In the footage, Dr. Ahmed outlined possible causes of PT. Changes in blood flow can trigger the pulsing sound. Common factors include:
– intense physical exercise
– pregnancy
– an overactive thyroid
– anemia
In more severe cases, PT may result from turbulence in blood flow. The most common causes include:
– aneurysms (weakened blood vessel walls)
– atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries)
When to seek medical attention
Dr. Ahmed also warned about another possible cause: tumors. Some tumors can increase blood supply to specific vessels. While many PT-related tumors are benign, they still require medical evaluation.
PT may resolve on its own in some cases. However, experts strongly recommend seeing a doctor. Identifying the cause early can prevent serious complications.
Social media reaction
Dr. Ahmed’s warning left viewes stunned and aclarm to conerned to humaman.
One person said: I hear my heartbeat through my ear when I lay down in bed.
A second wrote: Cuz I need something else for my anxiety to make me freak out about.
While a third commented: mine was Intracranial Hypertension caused by venous sinus stenosis. I just got my brain stent in April!
Another added: Pffft…it’s called Interoception and I’ve been able to hear and feel my pulse my entire life.
Someone else said: This happened to me once. Could hear it in my ear and feel it in the back of my neck. Went to the er cause i was so weak and sick. Ended up with a 3 day hospital stay and a transfusion of 4 bags of blood.
Another user added: I’d be worried if I couldn’t hear it in my ears, means I’m dead.
I often feel my pulse in my head, I also have a mass in my brain and my heart palpitates. Docs just don’t care. Never been checked out, they say I’m too young for major issues. Someone wrote.
If you or someone you know hears a persistent heartbeat-like sound in their ear, seek medical advice immediately. Early detection could be life-saving.