Have you ever noticed the sensation of your heart beating in your ear? This is called pulsatile tinnitus, and it could be due to a variety of underlying causes or conditions. If you’ve been experiencing this, you may have some anxiety around what’s happening and whether it will go away.
Tinnitus refers to when you hear a constant sound, usually ringing, in one or both ears, without an external source. Pulsatile tinnitus is a more specific form of tinnitus. Instead of ringing, you may hear a whooshing or thumping sound, which might align with your heartbeat. Pulsatile tinnitus in one ear only is common, but some people may experience it in both. While pulsatile tinnitus may sound like a type of condition or disorder, it’s usually a symptom of an underlying condition that needs to be treated.
“I can hear my heartbeat in my right ear!” Anxiety might be your first reaction if you notice signs of pulsatile tinnitus. It can be unnerving or worrisome to suddenly start experiencing this symptom.
But can anxiety itself cause this symptom? When it comes to hearing your heartbeat in your ear, anxiety has been considered a possible cause. This connection may be especially acute when experiencing a panic attack, due to the body’s physiological response of increased heart rate, dizziness and numbness or tingling sensations, among other distressing physical and mental symptoms. That being said, it’s currently unclear if anxiety has a direct link to hearing your pulse in your ear. Anxiety and physical responses often go hand-in-hand, however, and there is a known link between stress and pulsatile tinnitus.
Getting a pulsatile tinnitus diagnosis requires a visit to the doctor. Your doctor may start by using a stethoscope to listen to your neck and skull to see if they hear the sound you’re hearing. They may also perform a variety of hearing tests and other exams, such as:
- tympanometry,
- angiography,
- MRI,
- a doppler ultrasound and others.
