OpenHealth Q&A

Get answered by medical professionals

Pulsating Noise in My Right Ear and Throat Pressure: Should I Be Concerned?

8/10/2025, 2:10:33 PMMale25-34

Age: 56 Gender: Female Height: 5 feet 4 inches Weight: 135 pounds Ethnicity: Caucasian Duration of Symptoms: Recently began Affected Areas: Right ear and throat Relevant Medical History: None reported Current Medications: Wellbutrin 300 mg, Lexapro 5 mg, Jornay PM 80 mg I’ve been experiencing a whooshing noise in my right ear, particularly noticeable when I lean forward or stretch my body completely. This sound coincides with my heartbeats. Over the last week or two, the intensity of this sound has increased significantly. Additionally, I’ve begun to feel a sensation of pressure in my throat on the right side, especially while swallowing. If I gently press on that area, it triggers a cough. Should I consider this a pressing health concern?

AgingWellnessFamily Medicine

Answers (1)

Cony

8/10/2025, 2:10:53 PM

OpenHealth AI

It's understandable to feel concerned about a new and noticeable change in your body, especially with symptoms like a pulsating noise in the ear and throat pressure. These symptoms may relate to several benign conditions, but it's essential to pay attention to them, particularly since the intensity has increased.

Explanation:

The whooshing noise in your right ear that aligns with your heartbeat is known as pulsatile tinnitus. This can sometimes occur due to various reasons, including increased blood flow to the ear, changes in blood vessels, or even the position of nearby structures in the neck. The pressure in your throat, especially when swallowing, could be related to muscle tension, an ear-related issue, or even digestive factors. The fact that pressing on that area triggers a cough may suggest some irritation or sensitivity in the throat.

Next Steps:

  1. Monitor Symptoms: Keep a detailed record of when these sounds and throat sensations occur. Note any activities that seem to worsen the symptoms, as well as any new symptoms (like pain or changes in swallowing).

  2. Hydrate and Rest: Ensure you're staying well-hydrated and getting adequate rest. Sometimes dehydration or fatigue can exacerbate symptoms.

  3. Posture Awareness: Pay attention to your posture. Since you mentioned that leaning forward or stretching makes the sound more noticeable, be mindful of your body position in those moments, and try to adjust.

  4. Gentle Neck Exercises: Consider gentle neck stretches to relieve any muscle tension, but stop if it worsens your symptoms.

  5. Limit Irritants: Avoid smoking, excessive caffeine, and loud noises that may exacerbate both the tinnitus and throat pressure.

  6. Evaluate Stress Levels: If applicable, find ways to manage stress and anxiety, as they can physically manifest in various ways, including exacerbating symptoms like throat tightness or heightened awareness of bodily sounds.

While these symptoms can often be benign, if they worsen or you develop new symptoms (like significant pain, difficulty swallowing, or persistent cough), further attention would be warranted. Keeping an eye on your symptoms and following these steps may help you manage the situation better. Please take care and monitor how things progress.

Related Questions

Need Help Identifying These Creatures

At 18 years old, I find myself in a somewhat awkward situation, as I believe I may have seen some unusual creatures emerge after an extensive cleaning experience. Normally, I pride myself on maintaining kitchen hygiene and have never encountered anything concerning in my stool, which makes me uncertain about labeling them as worms. Nonetheless, it's always wise to err on the side of caution, right? 🤷‍♂️

ExerciseAgingPreventive Medicine
Male25-34
37 minutes ago

Removed a Mole at Home

I’m a 21-year-old female, and I’ve had a mole on my chest since childhood. It has been confirmed as benign, yet I’ve always felt uncomfortable about it because it was raised. This morning, I decided to take matters into my own hands and used an eyebrow razor to remove it. I realize that this wasn’t the safest approach, and it did result in quite a bit of bleeding. I managed to apply two band-aids to control it, but after taking one off for a replacement, I noticed that it’s still bleeding, albeit lightly. What should I do next?

AgingFamily MedicinePreventive Medicine
Male25-34
1 hour ago

Experiencing Sudden Jaw Discomfort and Facial Pain

As a 21-year-old male, I've developed a habit of cracking my jaw in a circular manner—something I've routinely done for years without any issues. Recently, however, I've found myself in significant discomfort. The area around my right ear and the side of my mouth are painful, making it difficult to open my mouth or even clench my teeth. This is an unusual experience for me, and I’m curious if this is something I should be worried about?

AgingFamily MedicineInternal Medicine
Male25-34
1 hour ago

Optimal Timing for Taking Sucralfate with Other Medications

I'm a 54-year-old individual who has been on Pantoprazole, taking it twice daily for a year now. Recently, I received a prescription for Sucralfate. While I did use Sucralfate briefly last year, I was never quite confident about when to take it in relation to my other medications. During that time, which I discussed with my physician, my routine involved taking Pantoprazole one hour before meals, followed by Sucralfate prepared as a slurry thirty minutes later, with my meal occurring half an hour after the Sucralfate. Despite this plan, I keep encountering varying information on the subject and would appreciate a clearer guideline. If I plan to have dinner at 6 PM, I would like to know the ideal times for taking Pantoprazole and Sucralfate to ensure that I’m maximizing the efficacy of both medications. I’m concerned about the potential for timing to hinder their effectiveness. Thanks in advance for your help!

WellnessSupplementsPreventive Medicine
Male25-34
1 hour ago

Availability of Rabies Vaccination in UK NHS A&E for Post-Exposure Treatment

After being bitten by a dog while traveling abroad, I completed the necessary rabies vaccination schedule as instructed (on days 0, 3, 7, and 14) and also received Human Rabies Immune Globulin (HRIG). Now that I'm back in the UK, I need to get my final vaccine dose after 28 days. Is it possible for me to visit an A&E department for this shot? Local doctor's offices do not provide this service, and the only clinics I've discovered are private travel clinics that charge upwards of £100, which is beyond my budget at the moment. My travel insurance covered the initial treatments I received in Thailand (minus the excess charge), but they will not pay for this last dose. Given that I am dealing with a post-exposure situation, isn't it reasonable to expect that I could receive this vaccine through the NHS? I was indeed bitten, and if the dog was rabid, not receiving this last dose could have severe consequences. I'm puzzled as to why the only option appears to be a costly private clinic. Can I access this vaccine through the NHS? If so, what steps should I take to obtain it? Personal details: Female, 48 years old, 172 cm tall, 70 kg in weight, bitten on the left leg by a dog, no known medical issues.

VaccinationFamily MedicinePreventive Medicine
Male25-34
1 hour ago