Ringing, or internal high-pitch noise in the ears, is called tinnitus. In most cases it goes away on its own. If it persists, it can be from an underlying health condition, including high blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause a specific type of tinnitus called pulsatile tinnitus, it is a rhythmical noise, often in time with your heartbeat. It can be caused by blood vessel problems.
Tinnitus and blood pressure: the link
When the blood pressure gets high, the blood flow through your arteries becomes more powerful. This rise in pressure can cause various noises in the blood vessels close to the ear.
Does it happen to everybody?
Tinnitus is common. However, if you experience tinnitus, it does not mean that you have high blood pressure. And the other way: not every hypertension sufferer develops tinnitus.
When is it an emergency?
- According to the WHO, you should seek immediate medical attention if you have tinnitus along with these symptoms:
- Chest pain
- Severe headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vision changes
- Anxiety
- Disorientation
Interaction with your doctor
If no above symptoms and the ringing in the ears persists for more than a week, it is best to call your doctor. You should also see a doctor if you deem the sound to lower your life quality significantly, causes interruptions in your sleep, challenges your concentration, or provokes emotional stress.
Do not forget to mention to your doctor:
- If you have ringing in one ear or both
- If you also experience hearing loss or unexplained ear pain
- If you experience dizziness or balance problems or not
- If the ringing begins with no reason that you know of
- And if you have any symptoms of high blood pressure, let your doctor know
Other causes of tinnitus
High blood pressure is not the only reason for tinnitus. The most common cause for tinnitus is exposure to loud noise. However, this kind of tinnitus is temporary and usually goes away within 72 hours.
Further causes of tinnitus include:
- Age-related hearing loss
- Earwax buildup
- Ear infection
- Allergies
- TMJ disorders
- Head and neck injuries
- Certain medications, including antibiotics, NSAIDs, and antidepressants
- Stress
- Migraines
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Anemia
- Hypothyroidism
Treatment of tinnitus
Currently there is no cure for tinnitus. Tinnitus that originates from high blood pressure is treated in the same ways as high blood pressure, by the proper lifestyle and blood pressure lowering medications if your doctor prescribes them.
Other treatments include:
- the sound therapy (listening to neutral sounds to distract from the sound of tinnitus)
- cognitive behavioral therapy (helps people learn to cope with tinnitus by changing the way they think about it)
- tinnitus retraining therapy (retraining the brain to reduce the perception of the ringing or buzzing sound)
- hearing aids and avoiding loud noises (limiting your exposure to loud noises can prevent tinnitus from happening)
