What is Meniere’s Disease
Meniere’s disease is an inner ear disorder characterized by tinnitus, hearing loss, feeling of pressure in the ears, and severe vertigo. In most cases, the condition affects just one ear. Symptoms usually come suddenly without signs of impending onset. Most patients experience a spontaneous attack of vertigo with sudden deafness and intense ringing in the ears. Sometimes, tinnitus and fluctuating hearing loss come before vertigo. Symptoms can vary in intensity and frequency, too.
The danger in people with this condition is the spontaneity of vertigo. Whirling sensations can occur anytime and anywhere. A patient can experience them while at work or while driving, and dizziness during these instances can lead to accidents. A patient should sit or lie down and remain still until the vertigo attack stops.
Meniere’s disease can strike at any age, but most patients are between the ages of 40 and 60. Experts do not understand how this disease develops, although there are a few theories that would explain the origin of this condition. Some specialists think that it results from abnormalities in the blood vessels in the ears. Another theory explains the development of Meniere’s disease as a result of autoimmune reactions or viral infections.
Records show that Meniere’s disease tends to run in families. Hence, some researchers believe that there may be genetic factors associated with failure to regulate of endolymph in the inner ears.
Treatment is based on reducing the intensity of vertigo and tinnitus. It involves diuretics to relieve fluid pressure in the inner ears. Natural tinnitus treatments remedy the ringing in the ears to some degree. There remains no cure for this condition.
