Can whooshing in ear be serious?

Table of Contents

What causes whooshing sound in ears?

Whooshing or ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus, can be caused by a variety of underlying conditions. Some common causes include:

Hearing loss – Damage to the inner ear hair cells that send sound signals to the brain can result in tinnitus. This includes age-related hearing loss.
Earwax blockage – Excessive earwax buildup can cause pressure changes in the ear canal that result in tinnitus.

Ear bone changes – Stiffening of the bones in the middle ear or conditions such as otosclerosis that affect ear bone movement can cause tinnitus.
Meniere’s disease – Fluid buildup in the inner ear due to this condition can trigger tinnitus along with dizziness and hearing loss.
Acoustic neuroma – A noncancerous tumor on the main nerve from the inner ear to the brain (vestibular nerve) can cause tinnitus.

Ear infection – Common causes include swimmer’s ear and middle ear infections that can lead to fluid buildup and inflammation.
Medications – Many medications including aspirin, certain cancer drugs, and even some antibiotics are ototoxic, meaning they can damage structures within the ear.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder – Issues with the joint hinge connecting the jawbone to the skull can sometimes contribute to tinnitus.

Muscle spasms – Spasms affecting one or more of the muscles attached to structures in the middle ear can cause tinnitus.
High blood pressure – Also called hypertension, high blood pressure can sometimes produce pulsatile tinnitus, which resembles a rhythmic whooshing in the ears.

In many cases, the exact cause of tinnitus is unknown. Possible factors include blood vessel disorders, chronic brain inflammation, and changes in brain activity.

Is whooshing sound in ear serious?

In most cases, whooshing or ringing in the ears does not signify a serious problem. While frustrating, it often improves over time and patients can learn to cope with the symptoms. However, pulsatile tinnitus caused by high blood pressure, acoustic neuroma, or an aneurysm does require prompt medical attention.

Factors that can indicate a potentially serious cause of ear whooshing include:

The whooshing beats in time with your heart rate

Hearing loss or dizziness accompanies the sounds
It is only in one ear
It started very suddenly

The sounds change in intensity
You have additional neurological symptoms like numbness or weakness
You have a headache along with the sounds

Pulsatile tinnitus synchronized to your heartbeat suggests an issue with blood flow and pressure, either due to high blood pressure, vascular tumor, or an aneurysm. When accompanied by hearing loss, dizziness, or neurological symptoms, the cause may be a tumor like acoustic neuroma compressing a nerve. Sudden onset unilateral tinnitus along with headaches warrants imaging like an MRI to rule out potentially dangerous causes like aneurysm or stroke.

When to see doctor for whooshing sound in ears?

It’s recommended to see a doctor for whooshing or ringing in the ears that:

Does not go away on its own within a few weeks

Occurs along with hearing loss or dizziness
Is pulsatile and beats with your pulse
Occurs suddenly or is continuous

Occurs with weakness, numbness, or severe headaches
Is significantly affecting sleep or daily life

A doctor can check for underlying conditions like anemia, thyroid dysfunction, earwax impaction, ear bone changes, or inner ear conditions. If warning signs are present, further testing like a CT scan or MRI can check for tumors or blood vessel disorders. Audiology testing can rule out inner ear damage or evaluate the type of tinnitus.

It’s advisable to promptly visit an emergency room for new, sudden whooshing in the ears along with:

Dizziness
Hearing loss or muffled sounds

Weakness of the face or limbs
Numbness
Difficulty speaking

Severe headache
Vision changes
Loss of balance

These types of neurological symptoms can indicate a medical emergency like stroke, aneurysm, or acoustic neuroma requiring immediate treatment.

What diseases cause whooshing sound in ears?

Here are some disease that can result in a whooshing-type tinnitus:

Hypertension

High blood pressure often produces pulsatile tinnitus that whooshes or beats in time with the heart. Hypertension impairs blood flow which can be heard in the ears.

Atherosclerotic disease

Plaque buildup causing narrowing of arteries (atherosclerosis) can affect blood flow to the inner ear and brain. This disrupted circulation results in pulsatile, whooshing tinnitus.

Glomus tumor

These noncancerous vascular tumors that develop in the inner ear’s glomus bodies can compress blood vessels enough to produce a pulsatile whooshing.

Meniere’s disease

This inner ear fluid imbalance causes tinnitus along with vertigo and hearing changes. The tinnitus is often described as a multi-pitched ringing.

Vestibular schwannoma

Also known as acoustic neuroma, this vestibular nerve sheath tumor presses on the vestibulocochlear nerve, leading to tinnitus, hearing loss, and balance problems on the tumor side.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH)

While the cause is unknown, increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure in the brain from this condition can create a pulsating, whooshing tinnitus.

Paget’s disease

This chronic bone disorder can affect skull bones like the temporal bone and cause conductive hearing loss and tinnitus. The tinnitus may be pulse-synchronous.

Brain aneurysm

A bulge in a weakened cerebral artery can disrupt blood flow enough to produce a whooshing with heartbeat tinnitus. Ruptured aneurysms require emergency surgery.

Stroke

A stroke affecting inner ear circulation can lead to sudden sensorineural hearing loss with a pronounced tinnitus that may sound like a whoosh or roar.

What does whooshing sound in ear indicate?

The quality of the tinnitus and accompanying symptoms can provide clues as to the underlying cause:

Pulsatile tinnitus – Whooshing in sync with heartbeat can indicate high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, tumors disrupting blood flow, vascular malformation, or intracranial hypertension.
Unilateral tinnitus – Ringing or whooshing always in one ear can result from an ipsilateral acoustic neuroma, glomus tumor, or Ménière’s disease.
Sudden onset tinnitus – Ringing starting abruptly signifies potential vascular events like stroke, aneurysm, or unstable blood pressure.

Associated hearing loss – Combined hearing changes point to inner ear damage, Meniere’s, or acoustic neuroma as the cause.
Neurologic symptoms – Numerous conditions like stroke or multiple sclerosis involving nerves or brain structures can produce tinnitus.
Headache and dizziness – This combo with unilateral pulsatile tinnitus suggests increased intracranial pressure characteristic of a brain tumor or hydrocephalus.

Always discuss new unexplained tinnitus with your doctor since in rare cases it indicates potentially serious problems requiring quick intervention. Conductive hearing loss or benign causes like wax or otitis are more likely, but it’s important to rule out ominous sources.

Tests for whooshing sound in ears

To identify the underlying cause of tinnitus and guide treatment, a physician may recommend:

Physical exam – Checks for conductive hearing loss, earwax blockages, TMJ issues, muscle spasms, blood pressure concerns.

Blood tests – Help rule out causes like anemia, thyroid dysfunction, inner ear antibodies.
Hearing test – Assesses for hearing loss type and degree, which suggest inner vs outer ear origin.
Imaging – CT/MRI – Allows visualization of head/neck structures to pinpoint tumors, vascular issues.

Electrocochleography – Measures inner ear fluid pressure, helpful for Ménière’s disease diagnosis.
Auditory brainstem response – Records brainstem response to sounds, used for vestibular schwannomas.
Carotid ultrasound – Checks carotid arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain for atherosclerosis.

Psychiatric evaluation – Assesses for stress/anxiety as a potential tinnitus factor needing therapy.

Based on concerning findings from history and physical, doctors may order CT angiography, screen for autoimmune conditions, or prescribe a medication trial. Prompt diagnosis allows specific therapies to relieve pulsatile whooshing and prevent permanent hearing damage.

Treatments for whooshing in ear

Treatment options will depend on the specific cause but may include:

Medications – Drugs like alprazolam, amitriptyline, or lidocaine can provide tinnitus relief in some cases.
White noise therapy – Uses external background noise from fans or sound machines to mask subjective ear noises.
Hearing aids – Amplify external sounds to cover up tinnitus. Can treat hearing loss contributing to tinnitus.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – Teaches coping techniques to increase tinnitus tolerance and reduce anxiety.
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) – Combines CBT with background noise to retrain the auditory system’s response to tinnitus.
Stress reduction – Relaxation, exercise, sleep hygiene, and social support to lessen stress making tinnitus worse.

Blood pressure control – Medications, exercise, diet, and stress management to prevent hypertension worsening pulsatile tinnitus.
Neuromodulation – Uses electromagnetic or electric stimulation of nerves to improve tinnitus impact.
Surgery – In severe pulsatile cases with arterial cause or tumors, surgery can curtail problematic blood vessel activity or remove growths.

While no cure exists, combining treatments tailored to the individual often brings meaningful improvements in tinnitus impact and quality of life. Counseling helps develop coping skills for managing remaining tinnitus symptoms. Monitoring for new neurological symptoms is also advised.

Prognosis of whooshing in ear

The prognosis for whooshing or ringing in the ears depends on the underlying condition responsible:

For tinnitus due to temporary causes like ear infections, prognosis after treatment is good for full resolution.

In chronic conditions like hearing loss, Ménière’s disease, or acoustic neuroma, tinnitus symptoms often persist but can be managed with various therapies to improve quality of life.
With treatment of high blood pressure or atherosclerotic narrowing, pulsatile tinnitus may subside over time as circulation normalizes.
Subjective non-pulsatile tinnitus linked to stress, anxiety, or unknown causes often improves slowly on its own without intervention.

Unexplained unilateral pulsatile tinnitus or cases with neurological symptoms require imaging tests to rule out potentially serious causes and guide prognosis.

While prognosis depends on etiology, the majority of persistent tinnitus cases can achieve some habituation and tolerance of symptoms when employing techniques to minimize impact on sleep and daily functioning. New onset or worsening tinnitus should prompt reevaluation to rule out pathological causes.

Prevention of whooshing in ear

These strategies can help reduce the risk of developing whooshing or ringing in the ears:

Use earplugs around loud noises like machinery or concerts.
Turn down volume when listening to music through earbuds or headphones.
Take breaks during prolonged noise exposure.

Get regular hearing tests and follow recommendations.
Treat ear infections promptly to prevent hearing damage.
Discuss drug side effects with doctors and modify medications if tinnitus occurs.

Control high blood pressure through diet, exercise, sleep, and medication if needed.
Quit smoking and eat a low-sodium diet to minimize atherosclerosis.
Learn and utilize stress management techniques.

Receive vestibular schwannoma screening if at increased genetic risk.

While some causes like Ménière’s or tumors are not preventable, minimizing noise exposure, overseeing health conditions, and practicing relaxation can reduce the chances of incurring permanent, bothersome tinnitus.

Conclusion

Whooshing or ringing in the ears in the majority of cases does not signify serious illness, especially when not pulsatile in nature. But new, unilateral, pulsatile tinnitus or cases with neurological symptoms require medical evaluation to assess for underlying tumors, blood pressure abnormalities, stroke, or other dangerous causes requiring prompt treatment. While no cure exists for persistent tinnitus, addressing associated conditions, learning coping techniques, and employing sound therapies can successfully manage symptoms and allow resumption of normal activities. With a thorough workup and customized treatment plan, even chronic tinnitus can be rendered tolerable in most individuals.