Fridge asked:

quote:

I have recently begun to faintly hear my pulse in my left ear. This started about 24 hours ago. There is no associated pain even when pressing below and around the ear.

Anything new happening to me these days makes me fearful. Any suggestions?

Regards, Fridge

Hello Fridge

Most people can hear their heartbeats when they go into a very quiet room. Because the ear is so sensitive, it is able to pick up the pulse from our bodies. I hear mine too, sometimes! When healthy people are over-tired or over-heated, they also may hear a pulse beat in the ear. The carotid arteries, which are big blood vessels carrying blood from your heart to your brain, run on either side of your neck, close to your ears. So it is louder with exercise or exertion because your pulse pumps harder during exercise or activity.

If your nose is very congested, pressure can build up in your Eustachian tubes, which connect the back of the nose and throat to the ears. Without our ear being able to hear normal sounds of the world around us, it picks up on the sound of our own pulse. Taking a decongestant or blowing your nose often might decrease the intensity of the pulse.

If you hear a loud pulse all the time, you should go see your doctor.

Best wishes
Vinod

Dr Vinod,

I believe you were spot on. I did not mention congestion as I didn't realise a possible association. Decongestion much reduced other effects gone. Many thanks and regards.

Fridge

Hello, I have a question for Vinod related to the above posts.

Chaz started to complain of feeling a bit light headed upon standing last week. I the ever worried did some searching on the oral foundation website and found a number of people there who have suffered carotid stenosis as a result of radiation and had to have stents inserted. Seems like quite a few MOs there do an annual ultrasound to check for this as part of standard procedure post rt. They also described hearing a pulse a wooshing noise. Chaz had reported a similar experience when lying down so I wondered whether it could be cartoid bruit. We mentioned his symptoms to the consultant yesterday during his regular check up. Consultant didn't mention anything about the possibility of this being due to RT damage but said dizziness is common in general population.

I happened to do a search here last night and notice that you recommend seeking medical advice if there is a constant loud pulse in your ear. And my question is does carotid bruit refer to a constant sound or can it just manifest occasionally? I don't know whether to push Chaz to go to his GP so they can have a listen with a stethascope. Part of my reason for concern is that Chaz has long been very over weight and had high colestrol, blood pressure and a history of headaches. I would identify him as a prime candidate for hardening of the arteries without RT...so if you through RT into the mix...well...I just wonder whether he should go to his GP.

Thanks Cathy