Resolved question:
Hello, Im having concerns with nosies that I'm hearing from my left ear. The noises are squeaks if I move my neck a certain way, Swooshing with my heart beat comes if I get up from bed to quickly or if i bend down its sometimes comes accompanied by a light head but not often. I'm concern if it might be my carotid artery. I'm a 29 year old male
thank you
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Family Physician-GP
Hello,
Thank you for your query at DoctorSpring.com
To address your primary concern, the noise that you think you're probably hearing is a carotid bruit. Carotid bruit occurs as a result of carotid stenosis, and is picked up on auscultation. Only rarely when there is severe stenosis, a patient can hear the sound and also observe a visible pulsation, which coincides with the heartbeat. There will be other symptoms like severe light headedness, weakness, paralysis of one side of the arm, and in certain cases unilateral blindness. Since you don't have any such symptoms, please do not worry about carotid bruit.
Can you only hear the sound when you bend down or get up too quickly? The light headedness shows that you are developing postural hypotension, again which can be present in normal population, but associated sound is quite a unique finding.
I need to rule out a few things here which will help me making an accurate diagnosis.
- Do you have any history of ear infections ( past/ present )?
- Any family history of heart disorders?
- Any other relevant medical history? And treatment history?
If you do not have any history of heart disorders or any shortness of breath, then it is unlikely to be anything serious? Also where do you think exactly the sound comes from? Is it localised only to the neck area?
Awaiting your reply,
Regards.
No, I dont suffer from any heart dieases in my family, and I have had ekg's done and stress test done about 2 years old patientago and came back clear. Never have suffered from ear infection. It comes when I move quickly or bend down quickly. It seems that its associated when I spike up my blood pressure by moving quickly. The nose is swooshing from the left ear with my heartbeat and it goes away in seconds. also if i move my neck foward i hear a squeak also from my left ear.
thanks
Hello,
In absence of any family history or any other cardiac ailments, it seems benign.
The most probable explanation is postural BP alterations, which is common in some people. With posture change the BP falls rapidly, sometimes around 20-30 mm of Hg, and due to this sudden fall, the Heart Rate immediately increases paradoxically due to the action of vagal nerve. Hence the increased sound of the heart beat makes a sound and that is what you hear.
To confirm this, you need to get your BP checked under different circumstances :
1) On getting up from laying down position, preferable once you wake up in the morning, or after a nap.
2) On suddenly getting up from sitting or squating position.
The BP changes will guide us in the diagnosis.
However postural BP changes has no real treatment, its just that over time you will gradually learn to avoid few postures, or movements which triggers the change.
Kindly get back to me for further queries,
Regards.
No, I dont suffer from any heart dieases in my family, and I have had ekg's done and stress test done about 2 years old patientago and came back clear. Never have suffered from ear infection. It comes when I move quickly or bend down quickly. It seems that its associated when I spike up my blood pressure by moving quickly. The nose is swooshing from the left ear with my heartbeat and it goes away in seconds. also if i move my neck foward i hear a squeak also from my left ear.
thanks
Hello,
In absence of any family history or any other cardiac ailments, it seems benign.
The most probable explanation is postural BP alterations, which is common in some people. With posture change the BP falls rapidly, sometimes around 20-30 mm of Hg, and due to this sudden fall, the Heart Rate immediately increases paradoxically due to the action of vagal nerve. Hence the increased sound of the heart beat makes a sound and that is what you hear.
To confirm this, you need to get your BP checked under different circumstances :
1) On getting up from laying down position, preferable once you wake up in the morning, or after a nap.
2) On suddenly getting up from sitting or squating position.
The BP changes will guide us in the diagnosis.
However postural BP changes has no real treatment, its just that over time you will gradually learn to avoid few postures, or movements which triggers the change.
Kindly get back to me for further queries,
Regards.