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Ask a doctor: “Why do I hear my heart beating in my ears?” »

You’ve probably felt your heart pounding in your chest after strenuous activity or taken your pulse by placing your fingers on your wrist or neck.

A less common – and sometimes surprising – sensation is hearing “hissing” the sound of your heartbeat in your ears.

Fox News Digital reached out to two doctors to learn more about what causes this and if it’s cause for concern.

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Hearing your heartbeat in your ears — also known by the Latin name “pulsatile tinnitus” — is not always a sign of a medical problem, but it might warrant a discussion with your doctor, according to Frederick James Meine, MD, cardiologist. interventional. with Novant Health in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Hearing your heartbeat in your ears – also known by the Latin name “pulsatile tinnitus” – is not always a sign of a medical problem. However, this might warrant a discussion with your doctor. (iStock)

“A lot of people hear it at one time or another, especially when they’re lying on their side,” Meine told Fox News Digital.

What is the cause of the disease?

Hearing your heartbeat may be linked to ear problems such as earwax buildup, fluid in the ear, or others. hearing problemsMeine said.

The most common cause is Eustachian tube dysfunction. This is usually due to allergies, according to Jesus Lizarzaburu, MD, a family physician at TPMG Grafton Family Medicine in Yorktown, Virginia.

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“The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the back of your nose, and when it is blocked or doesn’t open and close properly, it can cause the sound of your heartbeat to be heard in your ears. ears,” he told Fox News Digital. .

Another culprit could be earwax buildup, which can also cause a tightness in the ear canal that makes heartbeats easier to hear, Lizarzaburu added.

High blood pressure is another cause, although less common.

Hearing your heartbeat may be linked to ear problems such as earwax buildup, fluid in the ear or other hearing problems, a doctor said. (iStock)

On rare occasions, medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, diuretics, chemotherapy drugsAspirin, some antidepressants, quinine and antivirals can cause tinnitus, ringing in the ears in time with the heartbeat, Lizarzaburu noted.

“Extremely rare causes would be an aneurysm (a bulge of a blood vessel in the brain) or a vascular tumor, made up of a collection of blood vessels,” he added.

When to consult a doctor

A thorough physical exam, including a blood pressure check and examination of the carotid arteries of the neck, is an important part of assessing overall cardiovascular health, Meine advised.

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“Additionally, ruling out anemia or hyperthyroidism, both of which could lead to increased blood flow and possibly contribute to pulsatile tinnitus, could be assessed by simple laboratory tests,” he said. declared.

If a person suffers from this condition intermittently, it is probably less concerning, the doctor noted.

A thorough physical exam, including a blood pressure check and examination of the carotid arteries of the neck, is an important part of assessing overall cardiovascular health, a doctor advised. (iStock)

“However, if it is persistent or appears recently, we will carry out a complete history and physical examination,” he said.

From a cardiovascular standpoint, if a person has pulsatile tinnitus or hears their heartbeat in their own ears, Meine said it’s important to rule out any potential cardiovascular issues.

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The doctor would also make sure the patient does not have blockages or narrowing of arteries in the neck, which could contribute to louder heart sounds in the ears and head, he said.

“I want to point out that most of us occasionally hear our heartbeat in our head and ears, especially when our heart rate increases. during exercise” said Meine.

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