Understanding Clicking in the Head While Walking
Have you ever experienced a strange clicking or popping sensation in your head when walking? This odd phenomenon is not as uncommon as you may think. Known medically as pulsatile tinnitus, clicking in the head while walking affects a sizable number of adults. While the symptoms can be alarming, the condition is typically benign. Read on to learn what causes that clicking in your head when you walk, along with tips for managing this frustrating symptom.
What Causes Clicking in the Head When Walking?
In many cases, the culprit behind head clicking is muscular contraction in the region. There is a muscle called the tensor tympani in the ear that connects to the eardrum. When this muscle involuntarily contracts, it can lead to clicking or popping sounds that seem to come from inside the head. This muscle contraction often occurs during walking, chewing, yawning, or other repetitive motions.
Head clicking may also stem from abnormalities in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects the jawbone to the skull. Issues with this joint can lead to spasms and tightening in the associated muscles, triggering that clicking sensation during walking. Grinding or clenching the teeth is another TMJ-related factor.
In some instances, clicking in the head while walking is vascular in nature. Pulsing blood vessels in the ear or head may reverberate with your steps, producing an audible clicking. This typically occurs when blood flow becomes turbulent, often from a buildup of fatty deposits or other obstructions in the blood vessels.
Other Causes of Clicking in the Head
While walking and other repetitive motions tend to exacerbate head clicking, other factors can contribute to the annoyance as well. These include:
- Earwax buildup
- Changes in ear pressure
- Inner ear hair cell damage
- Eustachian tube dysfunction
- TMJ disorders
- Involuntary muscle contractions
- Arterial plaque buildup
- Head or neck injuries
In rare cases, pulsatile tinnitus with head clicking can stem from a more serious underlying condition. These include aneurysms, tumors, carotid artery dissection, and other vascular anomalies that affect blood flow. However, the vast majority of instances are not tied to any dangerous pathology.
Who Gets Clicking in the Head When Walking?
Head clicking while walking can occur in individuals of any age, but tends to be more common among adults. Women are diagnosed slightly more often than men. Contributing factors like TMJ and muscle spasms become more prevalent with age, which may account for increased incidence among older adults.
Those with existing conditions that affect the ears, jaw, head, and neck are most prone to developing clicking head sensations during walking. A history of ear infections, ear damage, bruxism, or TMJ dysfunction puts you at heightened risk. Head injuries, arterial blockages, and vascular disorders are also predisposing factors.
Signs and Symptoms
The main symptom is hearing rhythmic clicking or popping noises that seem to originate inside your head. The sounds tend to pulse along with your footsteps when walking. Other auditory sensations like humming, buzzing, throbbing, and ringing may occur too.
In most instances, the clicking is bilateral, meaning it occurs in both ears. However, it can sometimes affect just one ear. The volume varies too, from soft and faint to surprisingly loud and prominent.
Head clicking is often intermittent, and may come and go over time. It tends to be most noticeable in quiet settings. Additional symptoms depend on the underlying cause but may include:
- Ear pain or pressure
- Jaw soreness
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Hearing loss
When to See a Doctor
Occasional clicking in your head while walking is not necessarily a cause for concern. However, it's a good idea to see your doctor if the condition persists or you experience any of the following:
- Clicking that arises spontaneously or becomes continuous
- Clicking accompanied by dizziness or vertigo
- Impaired hearing
- Ear pain, pressure, or stuffiness
- Other neurologic symptoms
- Asymmetric clicking (one ear only)
Seeking prompt medical evaluation can help identify or rule out any serious underlying problems requiring treatment.
Diagnosis
To diagnose the cause of head clicking, the doctor performs a physical exam of your ears, jaw, head, and neck. They will check for issues like earwax blockages, fluid buildup, and TMJ disorders.
Your medical history provides important clues as well. The doctor will ask about associated symptoms, contributing factors, and any prior conditions affecting the ears or vascular system.
The following tests may be ordered to pinpoint the origin of your head clicking:
- Hearing test - Assesses your hearing thresholds and ability to discern sounds.
- Imaging - CT scans or MRIs check for abnormalities involving the ears, jaw, or blood vessels.
- Ear pressure test - Measures Eustachian tube function.
- Blood flow study - Ultrasound evaluates your carotid and vertebral arteries.
Results from this workup allow your doctor to diagnose any underlying condition causing the clicking, such as TMJ disorder, Eustachian tube dysfunction, or vascular occlusion.
Differential Diagnosis
Since pulsatile tinnitus has numerous causes, doctors must rule out various differential diagnoses. These include:
- Objective tinnitus - Clicking stems from an actual sound generated in the ear, rather than a phantom noise.
- Otosclerosis - Abnormal bone growth in the middle ear.
- Meniere's disease - Inner ear disorder causing vertigo and ringing.
- Ear bone (ossicle) dysfunction - Movement of middle ear bones creates clicking.
- Eustachian tube spasm - Involuntary tube contraction.
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction - Jaw/skull joint problems.
Once these and other possibilities are ruled out, your doctor can zero in on the root cause of your clicking head sensation.
Treatment
Treating clicking in the head during walking depends on the underlying reason it occurs. If a specific cause like earwax blockage, TMJ disorder, or arterial plaque is found, treating the condition often eliminates the clicking.
Otherwise, the following conservative measures may provide relief:
- Stress reduction - Relaxation techniques help reduce muscle tension in the head and neck.
- Dietary changes - Improving nutrition minimizes plaque buildup.
- TMJ therapy - Helps realign the jaw and reduce strain.
- Massage - Loosens tight muscles contributing to clicking.
- Sound therapy - White noise machines help mask annoying clicking.
Medications are rarely needed, but muscle relaxants, antianxiety drugs, or vasodilators may provide relief in some instances. Surgery is only utilized for cases involving tumors, arterial-venous malformations, or bony ear abnormalities requiring repair.
Self-care Tips
You can reduce head clicking episodes at home with a bit of diligent self-care:
- Avoid excessive jaw clenching or teeth grinding during the day.
FAQs
What causes that clicking sound in my head when I walk?
The most common causes are muscle contractions in the tensor tympani muscle of the ear, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, and turbulence in blood vessels in the ear or head. The clicking results from these issues rather than an actual sound inside the head.
Is clicking in my head serious?
In most cases, the clicking is benign and more of an annoyance than anything serious. However, it can occasionally stem from medical conditions like tumors or aneurysms that require evaluation. See your doctor if the clicking is accompanied by other symptoms.
How can I make the clicking in my head when walking stop?
Identifying and treating the underlying cause, whether TMJ problems, muscle tension, or blocked blood vessels, often eliminates the clicking. Relaxation techniques, massage, sound therapy, and dietary changes can help as well.
Should I see a doctor for head clicking?
It's a good idea to consult a doctor if the clicking persists, occurs along with other symptoms, arises spontaneously, or only happens on one side. A medical evaluation can determine if any serious issue requires treatment.
What tests are done for clicking in the head?
Doctors may conduct hearing exams, imaging studies like CT/MRI, Eustachian tube function tests, carotid artery ultrasounds, or other assessments. This helps diagnose the specific origin point of the clicking.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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