What do hearing rhythmic sounds similar to a heartbeat and ringing in the ears indicate?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am a 32-year-old female, obese, and I catch a cold very quickly. Since last month, I have taken raw fenugreek seeds on an empty stomach and exercised. Last month, I had ice cream at night (but did not catch a cold). From the next day onwards, whenever I bent down, I felt something ringing in my ears, like something was blocking me. Later after two days, I started to hear sounds similar to my heartbeat and is often rhythmic, then it started continuously. I went to the doctor, who said the cold or water might have caused the blockage. Later he offered some medicine, and the sound reduced, but today, I did some bend-over work, and it started again. I have never heard this sound before, only for the past two weeks. But it aggravates when I bend down.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Ear blockage, ringing, or unstimulated sound in the ear after a cold happens due to eustachian tube (ET) blockage. ET connects the middle ear with the back of the nose and serves to equalize pressure on both sides of the tympanic membrane and also drains the secretions from the middle ear into the back of the nose. After a cold, the opening of the tube at the back of the nose may get blocked due to inflammation or congestion, leading to failure of air pressure equalization and build-up of fluid in the middle ear. You need nasal and systemic decongestants and probably some mucolytics with steam inhalation. The increased blockage or sound in the ear while bending may be due to more pressure built up inside the ear due to gravity and increased blood flow.

What do hearing rhythmic sounds similar to a heartbeat and ringing in the ears indicate?

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