When there’s too much endolymph in your inner ear, those signals become scrambled so your brain can’t manage your sense of balance and hearing. After a vertigo attack, symptoms get better and might go away for a while. Over time, how many vertigo attacks you have may lessen. Meniere’s disease is an inner ear problem that can cause dizzy spells, also called vertigo, and hearing loss.
For some people this sensation may disappear completely, however for others it can become chronic with the constant feeling of pressure and this can cause considerable distress. Ménière’s disease causes damage to the hair cell receptors in the inner ear. These damaged hair cells spontaneously fire and send disorganised signals up the auditory nerve to the brain. In Ménière’s the hair cells concerned with low frequency sound are the first damaged, and therefore the tinnitus in Ménière’s is usually a rumbling, low frequency noise. For those with Ménière’s disease in its first stages noticing the tinnitus starting to change may be a warning sign that they will have a bad day or an attack.
They may also order a head MRI or a cranial CT scan to assess possible problems with your brain. Meniere’s disease is an increase in the fluid in tubes of the inner ear, particularly the endolymphatic sac and the membranous labyrinth. The cause is unknown, but suggested causes include autoimmune disease, allergies, and genetics. This is an organ in your inner ear that helps with your sense of balance. If you have a smartphone, it probably has an accelerometer, which is how your phone “knows” which direction is up.
Most people with Meniere’s disease have enough warning of a vertigo attack that they can avoid driving when they aren’t feeling well. Although this fluid buildup causes the symptoms of Meniere’s disease, it also happens in people with other disorders, such as idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss. So, your doctor will have to test you for many different conditions before they can confirm that you have Meniere’s disease.
Meniere’s Disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear. It can be a debilitating condition that affects a person’s quality of life. If you are experiencing symptoms such as these, you may be wondering if you have Meniere’s Disease.
Healthcare providers know Ménière’s disease symptoms happen when endolymph, a fluid in your inner ear, builds up and disrupts the delicate process your body uses to manage balance and hearing. Over time, attacks may improve, but tinnitus and other symptoms may become constant and hearing loss becomes worse, even between attacks. No single test or scan can allow a doctor to diagnose Ménière’s disease. The doctor will carry out an interview and physical examination, ask about the person’s medical and family history, and consider the signs and symptoms. Intratympanic injections inject medication through the eardrum into the middle ear space where the ear bones reside.
Symptoms of Meniere’s Disease
The hallmark symptoms of Meniere’s Disease include:
Symptoms can happen suddenly, and may happen daily or infrequently. The symptoms are most often in one ear but can affect both ears. Some doctors will perform a hearing test to establish the extent of hearing loss caused by Ménière’s disease. To rule out other diseases, a doctor also might request magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans of the brain. Ménière’s disease typically affects people ages 40 to 60.
- Vertigo: A sensation of spinning or dizziness
- Hearing loss: Usually in one ear, fluctuating over time
- Tinnitus: Ringing or buzzing in the affected ear
- Ear fullness: Feeling of pressure or blockage in the ear
Diagnosing Meniere’s Disease
Diagnosing Meniere’s Disease can be challenging because there is no specific test for it. Doctors will typically rely on a combination of your medical history, physical examination, hearing tests, and imaging studies to make a diagnosis.
Treatment Options
There is no cure for Meniere’s Disease, but there are treatment options available to help manage the symptoms. These may include:
- Medications: Such as diuretics, anti-vertigo medications, and corticosteroids
- Dietary changes: Limiting salt intake and avoiding caffeine and alcohol
- Vestibular rehabilitation: Exercises to improve balance and reduce dizziness
- In severe cases, surgery may be considered to relieve symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can stress trigger Meniere’s Disease symptoms?
A: While stress is not a direct cause of Meniere’s Disease, it can exacerbate symptoms in some individuals.
Q: Is Meniere’s Disease hereditary?
A: While the exact cause of Meniere’s Disease is unknown, there may be a genetic component that predisposes some individuals to developing the condition.
