Don’t worry if you hear a strange thud every now and then while lying in bed.
A Detroit-based doctor says it’s fairly common to hear an occasional heartbeat while sleeping on your side, especially if you’re in a very quiet room.
“If you sometimes sleep on your side and hear your heart beating, there’s a good chance your carotid artery is basically hitting the pillow,” says Dr. Anthony Yun, a board-certified plastic surgeon. . I recently explained it on TikTok.
“But if you constantly hear your heart beating when you sleep on your side, especially when you’re standing up, it could be pulsatile tinnitus,” Yoon continued.
pulsatile tinnitus It’s a relatively rare condition It is thought to affect between 3 million and 5 million Americans..
Patients hear rhythmic noises, such as hissing or hissing, in one or both ears that match the pulse.
One 59-year-old male patient was recently reported. It’s a “washing machine with spin cycle and vacuum cleaner”.
Pulsatile tinnitus occurs when there is a problem with blood flow in the arteries and veins near or around the ear.
“Although it’s usually benign, there are some potential causes for concern, so it’s best to see a doctor,” Yun says.
Pulsatile tinnitus can be caused by blockages in the ear, high blood pressure, narrowing of the veins or arteries in the head and neck, abnormal connections between the arteries and veins, benign tumors in the head or neck, increased intracerebral pressure, and rarely anemia or intracerebral pressure. may be caused by an increase in Pregnancy makes the heart work even harder.
This condition is usually diagnosed by examining the ears, neck, and head, hearing tests, and imaging scans to see what’s happening to the blood vessels.
Treatment depends on the underlying cause. The good news is that up to 70% of patients can figure out what’s causing the noise.
“In most cases, pulsatile tinnitus is nothing to worry about.” Dr. David M. Vernickotorhinolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon; told Harvard Health earlier this year..
“If it doesn’t go away on its own after a few weeks, or if it’s very bothersome, talk to your doctor,” Bernick added.