Meniere disease is a chronic inner ear condition, where a person experiences a fluid build-up in the inner ear. The increased pressure in the inner ear causes repeated episodes of vertigo and sometimes even leads to hearing loss. The disease can occur in one or both the ear depending on the severity of the cause. Hearing loss, tinnitus, fullness in the affected ear, etc. are some other symptoms that indicate Meniere disease.
It becomes quite difficult to accomplish daily chores when a person is suffering from such an ailment. Dizzy spells and ringing sensation in the ear makes it difficult for a person to live with it. Even though Meniere disease does not have a cure, but certain treatments and surgeries are designed to ease the symptoms. Consulting an expert neurologist will help in alleviating the symptoms of Meniere disease, which reduces the long-term impact on life. There is no specific age or gender defined, it can occur at any age but is most likely to occur after the age limit of 40 years. Meniere’s disease is one of the major causes of vertigo. Some people experience sudden attacks of vertigo dizziness or after a short duration of tinnitus whereas some experience dizziness once in a while.
Causes of Meniere disease
There is no specific cause that triggers Meniere’s disease in a person. It is caused mostly due to inner ear pressure. An abnormal amount of fluid build-up in the inner ear, known as endolymph leads to such a condition. It blocks the signals that are being sent to the brain through the ear.
The scientific name of Meniere’sdisease is primary idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops, which refers to abnormal fluid in the inner ear. Some other less significant causes that trigger Meniere disease are:
- Head or ear injury
- Infection in the inner
- Certain type of allergies can trigger the condition
- Excess consumption of alcohol
- Stress and anxiety can lead to Meniere disease sometimes
- Side effects of certain medications
- Smoking habits
- Fatigue
- Family history of the disease
- Severe Migraines
Symptoms of Meniere’s disease
- Repeated episodes of vertigo dizziness
Recurring episodes of vertigo are the most common symptoms in a person when he is suffering from Meniere disease. A person experiences a spinning sensation every now and then. It can last for 20 minutes to many hours depending on the severity of the condition. Nausea and vomiting are some other symptoms that come along with dizzy spells. Vertigo dizziness generally doesn’t last for more than 24 hours.
- Difficulty in hearing ability or hearing loss
A person can experience difficulty in hearing or a complete hearing loss if he is being triggered by Meniere disease. In the early stages of the disease, hearing loss comes and goes and is more fluctuant in nature. But as the disease progresses and is left untreated, it can result in a permanent disability of hearing loss.
- Tinnitus
Tinnitus is referred to as a ringing, buzzing, whistling or hissing sensation in the ear. It can be one of the symptoms in a person suffering from Meniere disease. In the earlier stage, the ringing sounds fluctuate, which may become perpetual as the disease increase its severity.
- Fluid build-up in the inner ear
Patients suffering from Meniere disease generally experiences a fluid build-up in the inner ear. Fullness in the affected ear is experienced by the patients suffering from this ailment. Some patients may even experience pressure on side of their heads, before the occurrence of bouts type of vertigo and disappears by itself as the dizziness subsides. Consult an expert medical professional as soon as you face such symptoms, to diagnose the cause, as some symptoms might improve suddenly after you experience vertigo episodes and trigger the condition furthermore after an interval of few days.
Treatment for Meniere’s disease
- A diet change is recommended by doctors
After the diagnosis of Meniere disease by an expert neurologist, patients are advised to do some alterations to dietary habits. Going on a low salt and low caffeine diet is prescribed to the patients suffering from Meniere disease. Patients are asked to reduce the intake of caffeine and salt for early recovery and alleviating the symptoms of the ailment.
- Prescribe medicines can treat
After diagnosing and checking the severity of Meniere’s disease, your doctor may prescribe you certain medications. Meclizine, Prochlorperazine, or Diazepam are some of the Vestibular suppressant medications that are generally prescribed by doctors to reduce the spinning sensation in a patient, which helps in easing out some of the symptoms of Meniere disease. If a person is experiencing inner ear pressure, Diuretics may be recommended to the patient to ease the issue. An expert neurologist will also suggest some medications to treat nausea and vomiting. The dosage of medicines is prescribed by doctors as per the severity of the case.
- Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy
If the patient is not treated well with the medications and symptoms of the disease do not seem to ease out, then doctors would recommend going for Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy. It helps in resolving disequilibrium issues that are raised due to vertigo spells. Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy can be customized to treat the condition of a patient.
- Hearing aids are suggested to some patients
To improve the hearing ability of the patient who is suffering from Meniere’s disease, doctors can recommend using Hearing aids to improve the hearing ability of a patient.
