What is Meniere’s Disease?
The cause of Meniere’s is not well understood. But the impacts are difficult to underestimate. Ringing in the ears, dizziness, vertigo, and hearing loss are all common symptoms of this condition. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease appear to stem from a buildup of fluid in the inner ear, but researchers aren’t really sure what causes that accumulation to begin with.
So the question is: how can you address something that doesn’t seem to have an identifiable cause? The answer is, well, complex.
Exactly what is Meniere’s disease?
There’s a chronic disorder that impacts the inner ear and it’s called Meniere’s disease. Symptoms of Meniere’s will grow as time passes, for many people, because it’s a progressive condition. Here are some of those symptoms:
Unpredictable bouts of vertigo: Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell when these attacks of vertigo may occur or how long they will last.
Tinnitus: It’s relatively common for individuals with Meniere’s disease to have ringing in the ears or tinnitus, which can range from mild to severe.
Fullness in the ear: This manifests as a sensation of pressure in your ears and is medically called aural fullness.
Hearing loss: Meniere’s disease can lead to hearing loss over time.
If you experience these symptoms, it’s crucial to receive an accurate diagnosis. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease can come and go for many people. But as the disease advances, the symptoms will likely become more regular.
Treatment for Menier’s disease
There is no known cure for Menier’s disease which is chronic and progressive. But there are some ways to manage the symptoms.
Some of the most prevalent treatments include the following:
- Hearing aid: As Meniere’s disease advances and your hearing loss grows worse, you might want to get a hearing aid. Typically, a hearing aid won’t necessarily slow the progress of your hearing loss. But it can help your mental health by keeping you socially active. There are also a number of ways hearing aids can help treat tinnitus.
- Positive pressure therapy: When Meniere’s disease is particularly challenging to treat, this non-invasive technique can be utilized. It’s known as positive pressure therapy. This treatment entails subjecting the inner ear to positive pressure in order to limit fluid buildup. Peer review has not, as of yet, verified the long-term benefits of this method but it does seem promising.
- Diuretic: Another type of medication that your physician might prescribe is a diuretic. The strategy is that reducing the retention of fluids could help minimize pressure on your inner ear. This medication isn’t used to treat acute symptoms but instead is used long-term.
- Medications: Anti-nausea and anti-dizziness medications can be prescribed by your doctor in some cases. This can be helpful when those particular symptoms manifest. For example, medications created to help with motion sickness could help you feel less dizzy when an episode of vertigo occurs.
- Rehabilitation: When Meniere’s disease is acting up, You can apply certain physical therapies that can help with balance. This approach may be a useful technique if you’re experiencing regular dizziness or vertigo.
- Steroid shots: Some symptoms of Meniere’s, especially vertigo, can be temporarily relieved with injections of specific steroids.
- Surgery: Occasionally, Meniere’s disease can be treated with surgery. Typically, however, only the vertigo part of the disease is affected by this surgery. Other Meniere’s symptoms will persist.
Find the best treatment for you
You should get checked out if think you may have Meniere’s disease. Treatments for Meniere’s can sometimes slow the advancement of your condition. More often, however, they reduce the effect that Meniere’s will have on your daily life.
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The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.
