No one’s quite certain what causes Meniere’s disease. But it’s difficult to overlook its effects. Some prevalent symptoms of this affliction are dizziness, vertigo, ringing in the ears, and hearing loss. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease seem to stem from a buildup of fluid in the inner ear, but scientists aren’t really certain 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 affliction that affects the inner ear and it’s known as Meniere’s disease. For many individuals, Meniere’s disease is progressive, meaning symptoms will grow worse over time. Those symptoms may include:
Unpredictable spells of vertigo: Unfortunately, there’s no way to determine when these episodes of vertigo will strike or how long they could last.
Tinnitus: The severity of this tinnitus could ebb and flow, but it’s not unusual for those with Meniere’s Disease to experience ringing in their ears.
Fullness in the ear: This symptom is medically known as aural fullness, the feeling of pressure in your ear.
Hearing loss: Eventually, Meniere’s disease can cause a loss of hearing.
If you experience these symptoms, it’s necessary to get an accurate diagnosis. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease can appear and disappear for many people. But as the disease advances, the symptoms will likely become more regular.
How is Meniere’s disease treated?
Meniere’s disease is a progressive and chronic condition for which there is no known cure. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any treatments.
The following are a few of those treatments:
- Diuretic: A diuretic is another medication alternative that might be prescribed by your doctor. The concept here is that the pressure in the inner ear can be minimized by decreasing retention of fluid. This is a long-term medication that you’d take instead of one to decrease extreme symptoms.
- Medications: In some instances, your physician will be able to prescribe anti-dizziness and anti-nausea medications. If those particular symptoms show up, this can be helpful. For instance, medications made to help with motion sickness could help you feel less dizzy when a bout of vertigo takes place.
- Steroid shots: Injections of certain types of steroids can temporarily help alleviate some Meniere’s symptoms, particularly in regards to vertigo.
- Positive pressure therapy: There’s a non-invasive method used when Meniere’s is especially challenging to manage. Positive pressure therapy is the medical name for this treatment. This therapy entails subjecting the inner ear to positive pressure as a way to limit fluid accumulation. While positive pressure therapy is promising, the long-term benefits of this method have yet to be backed up by peer-reviewed research.
- Hearing aid: It might be time to get hearing aids if Meniere’s disease is advancing to the point where your ability to hear is faltering. Normally, a hearing aid won’t necessarily impede the progress of your hearing loss. But it can benefit your mental health by keeping you socially active. Hearing aids can also help you control the symptoms of tinnitus in numerous ways.
- Surgery: Occasionally, Meniere’s disease can be treated with surgery. However, these surgical techniques will normally only impact the vertigo part of symptoms. It won’t affect the other symptoms.
- Rehabilitation: When Meniere’s disease is flaring up, You can apply certain physical therapies that can help with balance. This approach may be a practical approach if you’re experiencing regular dizziness or vertigo.
Find the right treatment for you
You should get checked out if think you might have Meniere’s disease. The development of Meniere’s disease may be slowed down by these treatments. But these treatments more often help you have a better quality of life in spite of your condition.