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Hearing Whooshing Heartbeat Sound In Ear. Feeling Lightheaded. Are They Related?

Posted on Tue, 4 Sep 2012

Question: For 7 months, I can hear a swooshing heartbeat in my right ear. It also feels sort of blocked on that side, from the neck up into the ear. Once in awhile, I have also been lightheaded, but do not know if that is related. There is no pain.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Nanjasetty (4 hours later)

Hi

Thanks for the query

With the brief description you have mentioned, it is very difficult to arrive at a diagnosis. I will try; make a sincere attempt to diagnose the cause of your problem.

With respect to your age, the swooshing noise in the ear could be due to Glomus Jugulare (Glomus Tympanicum). Glomus is a vascular lesion affecting the temporal bone of the skull. It is a rare condition of the ear and is usually noticed in elderly individuals. The symptoms include recurrent ear block, reduced hearing, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), dizziness, pulsations in the ear, pain, facial weakness, bleeding from the ear etc. It is diagnosed with a High resolution CT scan of the temporal bone or MRI.

Secondly, there could be an aneurysm (small dilatation) of the minute blood vessels present in the middle ear. This could be again related to the age and presence of co-morbid conditions such as hypertension or diabetes or raised cholesterol levels in the body. This is usually treated by cauterizing the aneurysm after lifting the ear drum.

Finally, fluid inside the middle ear secondary to blockage of the Eustachian tube (the tube connecting nose and the ear) can give rise to the present set of symptoms.

A proper diagnosis, rules the treatment modality. Hence you need to consult your doctor for a thorough evaluation and management.

Hope I have answered your query; I will be available for the follow-up queries.

Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Nanjasetty (45 minutes later)

Hi, Dr. XXXXXXX N.,

Thank you for the thorough review and reply.

Well, in January I had a regular physical exam, and there is no hypertension or diabetes, and my cholesterol is within normal limits.

I have an appointment with my XXXXXXX medicine doctor on Thursday of this week.

In the meantime, I have begun taking claritin and sudafed, in case it is the result of eustachian tube blockage.

The neck glands feel a little swollen on that right side, but not on the left.

I am hoping it is Eustachian blockage, and not either of the vascual problems you have identified.

The only other thing I can identify that has changed is that I began taking Celebrex in January.

Thanks again, XXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Nanjasetty (2 hours later)

Hi

Welcome back,

If you feel the ear problem could be due to Eustachian tube block, you can definitely try taking psedoephedrine and loratidine for a few days. Also, do steam inhalation 3-4 times a day; it helps in reducing the congestion around the tube.

Celebrex can cause tinnitus and dizziness occasionally. But all the above symptoms mentioned by you may not be caused by celebrex. The exact cause of your problem can be found out only after examining the ears and the nose.

I wish you good health.

Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon

Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar