Meniere’s Disease Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
Meniere’s disease is a chronic disease that occurs in the inner ear which can trigger vertigo or a spinning sensation in sufferers. People with this disease can experience disturbances related to the function of the inner ear, such as hearing loss and balance. Sufferers also often experience a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear.
This ear disorder can happen to anyone, including children. However, people aged 20–50 years are more susceptible to Meniere’s disease.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Meniere’s disease usually appear as attacks. Sufferers usually experience no symptoms between attacks. Symptoms include:
- vertigo or dizziness may occur for a few minutes to 24 hours
- hearing loss in the affected ear
- tinnitus or a ringing sound in the affected ear
- ears feel full
- lose balance
- headache
- nausea and vomiting due to vertigo
- sweating from vertigo
Reason
The exact cause of Meniereasih disease is unknown. However, this disease is often associated with pressure disturbances in the inner ear. The risk will increase if the sufferer has the following factors:
- poor drainage of fluid in your ear
- immune system disorders
- allergy
- viral infections, such as meningitis
- family history of Meniere’s disease
- head injury
- migraine
Diagnosis
In determining the diagnosis of Meniere’s disease, the doctor will ask about the symptoms and history of the disease. A physical examination including hearing and balance will be performed to rule out other possible causes.
Other investigations can also be carried out to support the diagnosis of Meniere’s disease, such as:
- Audiometry
An audiometric examination is performed to check for hearing loss. In the audiometric test, the patient will use headphones to hear sounds that vary in loudness and height.
- Electrocochleography
Electrocochleography test to measure the electrical activity of the inner ear.
- Auditory brainstem response (ABR)
ABR test to check the function of the auditory nerve and nerve centers in the brain.
- Electronystagmography (ENG)
In this balance check, electrodes will be placed around your eyes to detect eye movements. This is because the body’s balance response to the inner ear causes eye movements. The ENG test can be faultless if there is earwax blocking it or the ear is damaged.
- Rotating chair
This examination is rarely performed. This examination can be done if the ENG test results are not certain.
- Vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP)
The VEMP exam measures the sound sensitivity of the inner ear vestibules.
- Posturography
A postural examination can determine which part of the balance system is not functioning properly.
- CT- scan and/or MRI
Other tests such as CT- scans and MRIs can be done to rule out other possibilities such as brain tumors.
Treatment
Meniere’s disease cannot be cured. The goal of treatment is to help manage symptoms. Treatment varies from drugs to surgery depending on the severity of the disease.
Medications that may help include motion sickness medications, such as prochlorperazine to relieve symptoms of vertigo, nausea, and vomiting. Anti-nausea, antiemetic (vomiting) and antihistamines may also help. Diuretic drugs may be given because Meniere’s disease is thought to be caused by fluid in the inner ear.
Vestibular rehabilitation exercises can also relieve vertigo symptoms. This exercise trains the brain to adapt to the difference in balance between the two ears.
Hearing aids can also help people with Meniere’s disease. Usually, the patient does not need surgery. However, in patients who often experience severe attacks and are not successful with other treatment options, surgery may be needed.
An endolymphatic sac procedure is performed to help decrease fluid production and improve fluid drainage in the inner ear. While the vestibular nerve section procedure is performed to cut the nerve that connects the ear to the brain so as to reduce vertigo while preserving hearing.
Meanwhile, the labyrinthectomy procedure is performed when there is total hearing loss in the ear. This surgery removes the entire inner ear, which takes away the balance and hearing function of the ear.
Prevention
Medications such as betahistine may be given by doctors to reduce the attack and severity of Meniere’s disease symptoms. Betahistine can reduce fluid pressure in the inner ear thereby reducing the symptoms of hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo.
Changing your diet can help reduce the amount of fluid in your inner ear, reducing symptoms and preventing attacks. Foods to limit or avoid include:
- garam
- caffeine
- chocolate
- alcohol
- monosodium glutamate (MSG)
It is important to meet the needs of body fluids properly. Drink 6-8 glasses of water per day so that the body does not retain fluids. It’s also important to quit smoking and avoid allergens, as nicotine and allergies can make Meniere’s disease symptoms worse.
Sufferers also cannot predict when an attack will occur, therefore you should be careful when doing activities such as:
- drive
- swim
- on a plane
- climb the ladder
- operate heavy machinery