Menieres Disease Treatment - Get The Facts
Menieres Disease is a condition of the inner ear affecting balance and hearing to a certain degree.
While the disease was discovered in the mid-18th century, its cause still has remained a subject of debate.
The most widely-used opinion is accumulating and fluctuating fluid pressure within the inner ear, or Hydrops.
Though it can be a cause of mild to great amount of annoyance, Menieres Disease is not life-threatening.
It may typically be a chronic disorder, but people who have this condition only suffer from recurring episodes or attacks.
This means that there are times that they experience no symptoms at all and practically live normally.
Menieres Disease Symptoms There are four classic symptoms experienced by the ones suffering from Menieres Disease.
Though symptoms may still differ from person to person, the common denominators usually are: 1.
Tinnitus - A ringing sensation on one or both ears.
2.
Partial Hearing Loss - It may be experienced in one or both ears, usually with low-toned sounds.
3.
Vertigo - Said to be caused by excessive fluid accumulation in the inner ear.
It is also the most unpredictable and terrifying symptom of the disease.
4.
Feeling of intense pressure and fullness in the inner ear - Results with the mixture of potassium and sodium-rich fluids.
It is also the first symptom felt especially during the disease's early period.
The disease often starts with a lone symptom followed by gradual progression of other symptoms.
As for a typical attack, it usually starts with the feeling of fullness in one ear.
Then it is usually followed by an increasing tinnitus and then by loss of hearing.
Then severe vertigo (usually accompanied with nausea and vomiting) occurs.
Attacks are described as disruptive, intense, and unpredictable.
They last for several minutes or hours but usually do not exceed 24 hours.
Sudden falls without loss of consciousness though rare, may also occur.
It is usually caused by an abrupt and severe feeling of dizziness which may take place anytime but commonly, later in the disease process.
Diagnosing Menieres Disease is more conclusive if all four classic symptoms appear at once upon assessment.
Aside from this, the doctor will also try to rule out other possible ear problems by doing a series of tests which may include Otolaryngeology, Auditometry, and MRI of the head.
In addition, Menieres Disease does not have any known cure.
That is why interventions on the disease are focused on prevention and management of attacks.
Diet modifications may be immediately implemented - particularly limiting sodium intake - to help prevent further fluid buildup.
Anticholinergics, antihistamines, diuretics, and steroids are also prescribed to help relieve inner ear pressure.
Lipoflavonoids may also be recommended to go with the previously mentioned drugs.
Other drugs like diazepam and meclizine are also given to help manage attacks, particularly vertigo.
Managing attacks can also be done without the help of pharmacological measures.
Lying on the floor and focusing one's attention to any inanimate object greatly help.
Also, eating and drinking less minimizes vomiting episodes.
Aromatherapy, Tai Chi, and Yoga are also recommended to help in relaxation.
For severe cases of the Menieres Disease, surgeries like Endolymphatic Sac Decompression, Labyrinthectomy, and Vestibular Neurectomy may be needed to reduce the attacks to manageable levels.
While the disease was discovered in the mid-18th century, its cause still has remained a subject of debate.
The most widely-used opinion is accumulating and fluctuating fluid pressure within the inner ear, or Hydrops.
Though it can be a cause of mild to great amount of annoyance, Menieres Disease is not life-threatening.
It may typically be a chronic disorder, but people who have this condition only suffer from recurring episodes or attacks.
This means that there are times that they experience no symptoms at all and practically live normally.
Menieres Disease Symptoms There are four classic symptoms experienced by the ones suffering from Menieres Disease.
Though symptoms may still differ from person to person, the common denominators usually are: 1.
Tinnitus - A ringing sensation on one or both ears.
2.
Partial Hearing Loss - It may be experienced in one or both ears, usually with low-toned sounds.
3.
Vertigo - Said to be caused by excessive fluid accumulation in the inner ear.
It is also the most unpredictable and terrifying symptom of the disease.
4.
Feeling of intense pressure and fullness in the inner ear - Results with the mixture of potassium and sodium-rich fluids.
It is also the first symptom felt especially during the disease's early period.
The disease often starts with a lone symptom followed by gradual progression of other symptoms.
As for a typical attack, it usually starts with the feeling of fullness in one ear.
Then it is usually followed by an increasing tinnitus and then by loss of hearing.
Then severe vertigo (usually accompanied with nausea and vomiting) occurs.
Attacks are described as disruptive, intense, and unpredictable.
They last for several minutes or hours but usually do not exceed 24 hours.
Sudden falls without loss of consciousness though rare, may also occur.
It is usually caused by an abrupt and severe feeling of dizziness which may take place anytime but commonly, later in the disease process.
Diagnosing Menieres Disease is more conclusive if all four classic symptoms appear at once upon assessment.
Aside from this, the doctor will also try to rule out other possible ear problems by doing a series of tests which may include Otolaryngeology, Auditometry, and MRI of the head.
In addition, Menieres Disease does not have any known cure.
That is why interventions on the disease are focused on prevention and management of attacks.
Diet modifications may be immediately implemented - particularly limiting sodium intake - to help prevent further fluid buildup.
Anticholinergics, antihistamines, diuretics, and steroids are also prescribed to help relieve inner ear pressure.
Lipoflavonoids may also be recommended to go with the previously mentioned drugs.
Other drugs like diazepam and meclizine are also given to help manage attacks, particularly vertigo.
Managing attacks can also be done without the help of pharmacological measures.
Lying on the floor and focusing one's attention to any inanimate object greatly help.
Also, eating and drinking less minimizes vomiting episodes.
Aromatherapy, Tai Chi, and Yoga are also recommended to help in relaxation.
For severe cases of the Menieres Disease, surgeries like Endolymphatic Sac Decompression, Labyrinthectomy, and Vestibular Neurectomy may be needed to reduce the attacks to manageable levels.
