A whooshing sound in your ear, often referred to as pulsatile tinnitus, can occur when blood flows through the blood vessels near the ear, especially if there are changes in blood pressure. It may be more noticeable when blood pressure is elevated or fluctuating, as the increased blood flow can create a sound that resonates in the ear. Other potential causes could include earwax buildup, changes in the inner ear, or vascular conditions. If the sound persists or is accompanied by other symptoms, it's advisable to consult a healthcare professional.
If you are manually taking a blood pressure measurement using a sphygmomanometer and stethoscope, the sounds you hear between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure are called Korotkoff sounds, and they are muffled "whooshing" sounds heard with each heart beat and are thought to be caused by turbulent blood flow through the blood vessel caused by partial occlusion by the cuffed sphygmomanometer.
I'd like to know, too... I can feel pressure in the left side of my neck and actually hear the blood "whooshing" through what I assume is either my common or carotid artery... has anyone answered this yet? all I see is the question I'm asking, too.
Turbulence. Be it normal or abnormal, the "sound of blood" is always turbulence. This includes what you hear when you take a blood pressure ... which is a major source of error IF blood flow is abnormal (as in shock).
The systolic pressure is measured at the first Karotkoff sound (stage I), it is the first tapping noise that you hear with a stethoscope when taking a manual blood pressure.
Sound.
An hourglass does not make a sound on its own. However, when the sand inside the hourglass is running out, you may hear a gentle whooshing or trickling sound as the grains of sand fall from one chamber to the other.
That is the normal sound of the pressure equalizing in the system.
The sounds heard while measuring blood pressure in this way are called the Korotkoff sounds, and undergo 5 phases: # initial 'tapping' sound (cuff pressure = systolic pressure) # sounds increase in intensity # sounds at maximum intensity # sounds become muffled # sounds disappear
The pressure in the cuff drops further, the sounds change in quality, then become muted, then disappear altogether. As the pressure in the cuff drops below the diastolic blood pressure, the cuff no longer provides any restriction to blood flow allowing the blood flow to become smooth again with no turbulence and thus produce no further audible sound.
I know generally what the answer to your question is but with further investigation I think you could find a more complete/ simpler explanation. The first korotkoff sound (pulse sound) is the point at which blood pressure in the vessel exceeds the pressure of the BP cuff. At this point a turbulent flow of blood manages to pass through the pressurized area thus giving you your first audible sound. As you may know already systole is when the heart contracts, pumping blood into the aorta and into the body because of the sudden influx of blood into the body pressure suddenly jumps, so the sound you hear essentially is the result of an opposing force. I hope that is the answer you were looking for.
Many people report a "ringing," "buzzing," or "roaring" that others cannot hear. Sometimes the sounds "pulse" with the person's heartbeat. But rather than blood "whooshing," those sounds usually turn out to be subjective head-noises known as tinnitus. Most tinnitus is harmless; some can be treated. People who experience subjective head-noises might want to consult with a physician to ask whether the symptom needs attention or whether the noises can be diminished.
Yes...I went to the Dr. complaining that I heard my own heartbeat 24/7. He did an exam using a stethascope on my neck and heard the "whooshing"sound. I now have to go to the hospitol for an ulstrasound.