No one’s really certain what causes Meniere’s disease. But it’s hard to dismiss its effects. Ringing in the ears, dizziness, vertigo, and hearing loss are all typical symptoms of this disorder. Experts aren’t really sure why, but for some reason, fluid can build up in the ears and this seems to be the underlying cause of Meniere’s disease.
So here’s the question: how can you address something that doesn’t seem to have an identifiable cause? The answer is, well, complex.
What exactly is Meniere’s disease?
There’s a chronic affliction that affects the inner ear and it’s called Meniere’s disease. For many individuals, Meniere’s disease is progressive, meaning symptoms will grow worse over time. Here are some of those symptoms:
Unpredictable spells of vertigo: Unfortunately, there’s no way to determine when these episodes of vertigo may occur or how long they could last.
Tinnitus: The severity of this tinnitus may ebb and flow, but it’s not abnormal for those with Meniere’s Disease to have ringing in their ears.
Fullness in the ear: This symptom is medically called aural fullness, the feeling of pressure in your ear.
Hearing loss: Meniere’s disease can lead to hearing loss over time.
It’s critical that you get the proper diagnosis if you’re noticing these symptoms. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease can appear and disappear for many individuals. But over time, symptoms can become more consistent and obvious.
How is Meniere’s disease treated?
Meniere’s disease is a progressive and persistent condition which has no known cure. But there are a few ways to deal with the symptoms.
The following are a few of those treatments:
- Positive pressure therapy: When Meniere’s disease is especially hard to treat, this non-invasive technique can be used. Positive pressure therapy is the medical name for this treatment. This treatment entails exposing the inner ear to positive pressure as a way to limit fluid accumulation. Peer review has not, as of yet, confirmed the long-term benefits of this method but it does seem promising.
- Hearing aid: It might be time to try hearing aids if Meniere’s disease is advancing to the point where your ability to hear is failing. Generally, a hearing aid won’t necessarily slow the advancement of your hearing loss. But it can help your mental health by keeping you socially active. There are also numerous ways hearing aids can help treat tinnitus.
- Rehabilitation: When Meniere’s disease is acting up, You can employ certain physical therapies that can help with balance. If you’re perpetually dizzy or experiencing vertigo, this approach may be warranted.
- Diuretic: A diuretic is another medication option that may be prescribed by your doctor. The idea here is that the pressure in the inner ear can be lessened by reducing fluid retention. This is a long-term medication that you’d use as opposed to one to minimize acute symptoms.
- Surgery: In some cases, Meniere’s disease can be treated with surgery. Normally, however, only the vertigo part of the disease is impacted by this surgery. Other Meniere’s symptoms will remain.
- Medications: In some instances, your physician will be prescribe anti-dizziness and anti-nausea medications. If those particular symptoms appear, this can be helpful. For instance, medications made to help with motion sickness could help you feel less dizzy when a bout of vertigo occurs.
- Steroid shots: Some symptoms of Meniere’s, particularly vertigo, can be temporarily relieved with injections of specific steroids.
Get the right treatment for you
If you think you have Meniere’s disease, you should get evaluated. The advancement of Meniere’s disease might be slowed down by these treatments. More often, however, they reduce the impact that Meniere’s will have on your everyday life.