Common Causes Of Pulsatile Tinnitus

Turbulent Blood Flow

In healthy individuals, blood normally flows throughout the body in a smooth and regular laminar pattern. Patients with certain medical conditions may develop turbulent blood flow that results in an irregular, chaotic, and non-linear pattern of blood flow. This type of flow is very noisy, and it can cause pulsatile tinnitus for some patients. Turbulent blood flow is particularly common in patients with carotid artery disease and in individuals who have problems with the aorta. Doctors can typically hear turbulent blood flow by placing a stethoscope over the affected area. To evaluate blood flow, patients will need to have ultrasound scans, and CT scans, MRI scans, and other specialized scans may be needed to provide more detailed information. In the case of pulsatile tinnitus, doctors may need to check whether the patient's symptoms disappear when gentle pressure is applied to the jugular vein, and a balloon occlusion test may be advised in rare cases. Cases of turbulent blood flow caused by cardiac issues may be successfully treated with surgical interventions. However, pulsatile tinnitus is not currently curable.

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