When bedtime heartbeat noise warrants medical attention
Has it ever happened to you that after a long day, as you lie down to sleep, you hear the unsettling sound of a loudly beating heart that keeps you awake? Where does this come from, and should you be concerned?
Sometimes it’s merely annoying, while at other times, it can make falling asleep difficult or even impossible. A pulsing, thumping, or humming sound reminiscent of a rhythmic heartbeat is usually heard late at night when everything around is blissfully quiet. However, this symptom should not be ignored, as it may indicate health issues.
Heartbeat "in the ears" while lying down
Have you ever wondered why you hear your heartbeat usually while lying on your side? If this happens occasionally, it's completely normal and not a cause for concern. A pulsing noise in the ears is typically described as hearing the heart's rhythm, which is not accidental. It results from a faster-than-usual blood flow through the veins and arteries near the ears.
Dr. Anthony Youn, a surgeon, compared the noise heard in the ears to an annoying bass that's "just too loud" and interferes with normal functioning. It turns out the cause is simple.
- If, every once in a while, you’re lying on your side and you hear your heart beating, it’s most likely your carotid artery basically sitting against your pillow - he emphasised.
The carotid artery plays an extremely important role in the body. It supplies blood and oxygen to the brain and all parts of the face, head, and neck. When sleeping on your side, the carotid artery is near the pillow, so the thumping sound is just the natural rhythm of blood flowing through the blood vessels.
When should the heartbeat audible in the ears concern us?
Dr. Youn explains that we might be worried if hearing the heartbeat happens repeatedly while lying down (and also during normal daily activities) and keeps recurring. In such a case, a chronic pulsing sound may indicate tinnitus caused by various conditions.
The causes can include severe stress, atherosclerosis (the characteristic thumping heard in the ears occurs when the arterial lumen narrows due to plaque buildup), high blood pressure, anaemia, or hyperthyroidism (the pulsating noise in the ears is caused by a rapid heartbeat and accelerated blood flow).
Harvard Health states that in most cases, pulsatile tinnitus is not a cause for concern. However, it's better to consult a doctor if your symptoms are troubling and increasingly frequent.
