People with this pulsatile tinnitus experience a sound in their ears that happens in time with their pulse. It can be a symptom of conditions that affect your heart, veins, or arteries.

Often, changes in head position, such as lying down, can affect pulsatile tinnitus symptoms.

Many people with pulsatile tinnitus experience changes to their symptoms when they move their head, bend over, and lie down. For some people, pulsate tinnitus symptoms increase while lying down.

This can happen because lying down can change the pressure in your body and the way blood moves through the vessels near your ear.

It can also be because the sounds caused by tinnitus become more noticeable when it’s quiet and there are no distractions, such as when you’re lying down in bed.

Why does my pulsatile tinnitus go away when I lay down?

Some people may also find that the symptoms of pulsatile tinnitus go away when they lie down. This can be due to changes in posture and blood flow in vessels near the ear. Head position while lying down can also affect symptoms.

For some people, tinnitus symptoms may be related to stress. Symptoms may reduce when lying down and relaxing.

Sleep position might cause you to notice pulsatile tinnitus, but it’s unlikely to be the primary cause. Pulsatile tinnitus is often a symptom of an underlying condition.

This typically involves conditions that affect the blood vessels in your head and neck, as well as heart health conditions.

Some conditions linked to pulsatile tinnitus include:

Pulsatile tinnitus can sometimes be temporary. Factors such as being on high alert or a spike in your awareness can cause it. For example, some people might experience pulsatile tinnitus during a panic attack.

Sleep position can affect the symptoms of pulsatile tinnitus. People who experience pulsatile tinnitus often find that laying with their head toward the symptomatic side can help.

For instance, if you primarily hear pulsatile tinnitus symptoms in your left ear, lying on your left side with your left ear resting on your pillow can reduce symptoms.

Taking time to relax can also help reduce the symptoms of pulsatile tinnitus. You can try methods such as:

These relaxation tools can help reduce blood pressure and reduce the overall effect of pulsatile tinnitus.

Often, treating the underlying cause of pulsatile tinnitus can help address symptoms. For instance, taking medication that addresses blood pressure, thyroid conditions, or anemia can reduce or resolve pulsatile tinnitus symptoms.

Additional possible treatments to reduce symptoms of pulsatile tinnitus at night can include:

  • using fans or white noise machines at night
  • avoiding caffeine in the evening
  • avoiding alcohol in the evening, if you drink
  • getting plenty of exercise
  • using blackout curtains, eye masks, and other aids to help reduce the light in your bedroom
  • developing a nighttime routine
  • making adjustments to your bedroom to enhance comfort

How do you know if pulsatile tinnitus is serious?

Pulsatile tinnitus can be a symptom of many conditions. It’s always advisable to tell a doctor you’ve experienced pulsate tinnitus, especially if it’s started happening frequently. An underlying condition or cause can be found for about 70% of people who experience pulsatile tinnitus.

Sometimes, pulsatile tinnitus can signal an urgent medical concern. It’s important to contact a healthcare professional as soon as possible if you have pulsatile tinnitus that:

  • starts after a head injury
  • is only in one ear and persists for several weeks
  • happens at the same time as other symptoms, such as difficulty with balance, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting

Head position can affect pulsatile tinnitus symptoms. For some people, this means symptoms improve or worsen when they lie down.

Often, this happens due to changes in blood flow in the vessels surrounding the ear. Making changes to sleep position, such as lying with the affected ear resting against the pillow, can help reduce symptoms.