What is Meniere’s Disease?

Meniere's disease is a very disturbing illness, presenting patients with hearing loss, pressure in the ear, tinnitus, severe imbalance, dizziness, and/or vertigo. Dizziness can be very disturbing and very frightening.  Vertigo is described as a sudden loss of normal balance or equilibrium, spinning or whirling of the room, difficulty walking or standing, and may cause vomiting or nausea.  The vertigo usually comes on suddenly, lasting minutes to hours, totally resolving, and then later recurring. It may occur several times a week or as infrequently as every several years. A noise described as ringing, buzzing, or roaring in the ears with a sensation of fullness or pressure and fluctuating hearing loss is an aurora that commonly precedes the vertigo spell. The hearing loss in Meniere's may lead to severe permanent hearing loss and deafness in the affected ear.

Meniere's disease rarely occurs in children. In most cases, it begins in both men and women between the ages of 30-50. The severity of this disease varies, ranging from mild to severe, disabling vertigo. 

The underlying cause of Meniere’s disease is excessive fluid accumulation in the inner ear. The fluid pressure stretches the membranes that divide the compartments of the inner ear. As the membranes of the inner ear stretch, hearing diminishes and tinnitus worsens. When the inner ear membranes are severely stretched, they may rupture, which results in mixing of the fluids and this mixture is thought to bring on the vertigo. After the membranes rupture, they eventually heal, but some hearing is usually lost.

Diagnosing

A thorough examination and other tests may be needed including:

• Audiogram


• Metabolic Laboratory Evaluation


• Electronystagmography, or balance test (ENG),


• MRI and/or CT scan

Treatment

There is no cure for Meniere’s disease. Treatment includes modification of personal habits, diet, stress reduction and regular exercise, which are all extremely important in the overall treatment of Meniere's disease. Medications may be recommended by your doctor. The following recommendations can help control the disease by ending or reducing the frequency and severity of attacks:

• Avoid caffeine, nicotine, alcoholic beverages, salty foods, over fatigue, and loud noise exposure


• Minimize stress


• Daily exercise and adequate rest are helpful


• Medications such as Antivert (Meclizine) may be given by your doctor

Invasive drug therapy and surgery may be recommended for severe and disabling symptoms.