Have you ever noticed why do you hear your heartbeat in your ear when you lay down in bed at night? Many people suffer from hearing their heartbeat in their ears, especially in the morning. However, this is usually not dangerous or serious and can be a result of several different factors.
There are some common factors why do you hear your heartbeat in your ear. If you’ve been wondering why you have this strange symptom, check out the following list of explanations so you can figure out what’s causing it.
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1. Tinnitus
It’s normal to hear a heartbeat in your ears while sitting up or lying down. Sitting up will typically increase the intensity of the sound, while lying down will decrease the intensity of the sound.
If you have tinnitus, it’s likely that you’ll experience a ringing sensation in one or both ears and might also hear a beating noise. Tinnitus is often caused by exposure to loud noises such as power tools, guns, heavy machinery and loud music concerts.
2. Drink too much coffee
If you’re a coffee drinker and suddenly start to hear your heartbeat in your ear, it’s probably because of dehydration. Coffee is a diuretic, which means that it causes the body to excrete more water than usual. If you don’t drink enough water, the lack of fluid can make it difficult for blood cells to properly absorb oxygen in the ear canal.
This causes them to make a thumping sound when they move through the vessels and membranes lining the inner ear. As blood flow increases in order to compensate for a drop in oxygenation, you might also feel dizzy or experience temporary changes in vision.
3. Anxiety
There are a number of potential causes for hearing your heartbeat in your ear, as it’s not an uncommon symptom. It can be a sign of anxiety, but there are also other potential causes including sinus congestion, fluid build up behind the eardrum, dizziness or vertigo and certain types of heart conditions that can cause palpitations.
The first thing to do is to confirm that this is actually what you’re hearing by asking somebody else whether they hear the same sounds. If so, then it’s likely to be due to some form of anxiety and if not then it could be another problem.
4. Infection
An ear infection is the most common explanation for this phenomenon. Ear infections often cause pain, and in rare cases can lead to temporary deafness. If there is any possibility that an ear infection is the culprit, see a doctor as soon as possible.
A panic attack could also cause tinnitus and an increase in heartbeat, and it is often accompanied by feelings of fear or terror. Medication can help with these symptoms, so talk to your doctor about how best to manage them.
5. Heart Health
The sound of your heartbeat can be heard in the ear when the eardrum is vibrating. This is called pulsatile tinnitus, and it usually lasts a few seconds at a time. The sound can sometimes make it difficult to hear sounds in that ear, but it will go away on its own.
If the condition becomes constant and there are other symptoms with it, such as dizziness or difficulty sleeping, then see your doctor. Other possible causes for pulsatile tinnitus include low blood pressure, sinusitis (chronic inflammation of the sinuses), some types of tumors or head injury. There are also some benign heart conditions that may lead to this type of noise in one ear.
6. Atherosclerosis
You may hear a heartbeat in your ear if you have atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the build up of cholesterol and fat in the walls of your arteries. This buildup causes the arteries to narrow and stiffen, which can cause high blood pressure as well as heart attacks.
When this happens, more blood will flow through smaller vessels in order to get to the heart. Because these vessels are much closer to the eardrum than arteries are, they’ll vibrate when the blood flows through them. The vibrations are what cause some people to hear their own heartbeats in their ears.
7. Blood Vessel Disorders and Malformations
If you hear a heartbeat in your ear or feel the blood pumping in this area, it could be due to a blood vessel disorder or malformation. In rare cases, the sound could also indicate an acoustic neuroma. Acoustic neuromas are benign (noncancerous) tumors on the nerve that connects your inner ear and brain.
These types of tumors can cause tinnitus, which is often described as a buzzing or ringing sensation. The good news is that these types of symptoms will likely resolve once the tumor is removed through surgery.
8. Ear Abnormalities
You might hear your heartbeat in one ear if the eardrum is inflamed or if there are fluid buildups. You can also hear your heartbeat in one ear if there are tubes or adhesions in the Eustachian tube (a tube that connects the throat and middle ear) from an upper respiratory infection.
9. High Blood Pressure
Sometimes, the sound of one’s heartbeat in the ear can be a result of high blood pressure. When the heart beats, it pushes and pulls on the arteries with each beat, causing them to vibrate. This vibration creates a swooshing sound that is amplified in one’s ear as blood passes through.
High blood pressure can also cause excess fluid buildup in the body which causes blood vessels to stretch and become more sensitive which can cause this same type of symptom. If these symptoms persist, consult a physician for further examination.
10. Head and Neck Tumors
The most common reason for a person to hear their heartbeat in their ear is a head or neck tumor. This can be caused by tumors that are pressing on the jugular vein, which leads to the ear. These tumors can cause an increase in blood flow, leading to a louder heart beat. In some cases this can also lead to headaches and dizziness.
11. Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
In rare cases, an underlying health condition can cause a person to hear their heartbeat in their ear. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is one such condition and is characterized by increased pressure on the brain. The increased pressure leads to fluid retention in the skull and slowly grows worse over time. The symptoms of IIH are non-specific, but are often attributed to other conditions.
12. Sinus Wall Abnormalities
One possibility for hearing your heartbeat in your ear could be a sinus wall abnormality. This can happen when the sinus membrane presses against the eardrum, which results in a muffling of sound and distortion. The procedure to fix this problem is called balloon dilation, where a balloon catheter is inserted through the nose and inflated in order to push the membrane away from the eardrum.
In most cases, the patient will see an improvement within a few days of treatment. An infection: Another reason why you hear your heartbeat in your ear could be because of an infection or foreign object inside the ear canal.
These are the 12 possible reasons why do you hear your heartbeat in your ear.
Is hearing your heartbeat in your ear a cause for concern?
Hearing one’s heartbeat in their ear is a benign condition and is not necessarily cause for concern. However, if it was a sudden onset, or if it was accompanied by other symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, or chest pain, then the individual should seek medical attention to rule out more serious causes of the symptom.
In some cases, the heartbeat can be heard in someone’s ear due to an obstruction in the middle ear. If this is the case then a physician may prescribe an antibiotic to combat any infections present. Other causes for hearing one’s heartbeat in their ear can include anxiety disorders or migraine headaches.
What lifestyle changes can help if you hear your heartbeat in your ear?
It’s very common for a person to hear their heartbeat in their ear. It can happen when blood flow increases due to exercise, excitement or increased heart rate. It can also happen when there is an increase in a person’s blood pressure, which is often associated with anxiety, stress and panic attacks.
If a person has been ill, it is not uncommon for them to have tinnitus in one or both ears. This condition usually resolves itself after the illness subsides. Conditions such as ear canal infections and colds are also common causes of this type of symptom, which typically resolve themselves after the infection clears up or the cold runs its course.
Conclusion: Why Do You Hear Your Heartbeat In Your Ear
It is still unknown why some people hear their heartbeat in their ear. It could be due to a variety of reasons such as anxiety, high blood pressure, or even a side effect of certain medications. If you are concerned about hearing your heartbeat in your ear, be sure to consult with your doctor.