Meniere’s disease is a condition that targets the inner ear area. One of the main symptoms of the condition is vertigo, but it can exhibit many other symptoms as well. Meniere’s disease affects a fairly large portion of the population, and while the disorder can affect people of any age, symptoms usually manifest themselves in people between the ages of 20 to 50.
The Main Symptoms of Meniere’s Disease
One of the main symptoms of the disease is repeated episodes of vertigo. These can appear with no warning at all and last anywhere from 20 minutes to a whole day, but rarely more than 24 hours. These episodes of vertigo can sometimes lead to other symptoms like vomiting and nausea.
Another major symptom of Meniere’s disease is loss of hearing. At the beginning, hearing loss can vary in sufferers, but eventually this leads to permanent loss to various degrees. Tinnitus, or ear ringing, is another hearing related sign of Meniere’s.
In some cases, people have reported that they feel some kind of pressure in both ears.
The Causes of Meniere’s Disease
At the time of writing, no specific cause has been identified for Meniere’s. The general consensus is that it has to do with something surrounding the amount of fluid in the inner ear. Other factors that may contribute to it include fluid drainage issues, genetic predisposition, viral infections and head trauma.
What Treatment is Available
There is no definite cure for Meniere’s disease, however, there are treatments for its symptoms. For vertigo, for instance, you might be prescribed medication for motion sickness, such as diazepam or meclizine. Promethazine can be prescribed in some cases to control nausea.
In addition to that, your doctor may prescribe diuretics to deal with fluid retention as well as non intrusive treatments such as rehabilitation, hearing aids or therapy using a Meniett device. The device works by applying pulsating pressure through your ear canal to reduce the effects of vertigo and inner ear pressure.
In more severe cases, doctors may prescribe some forms of steroids or surgical procedures such as a vestibular nerve section or labyrinthectomy.
What to do?
If you feel like you have any of the symptoms associated with Meniere’s disease, consult your doctor immediately. He might be able to tell you if you actually have Meniere’s disease or if your symptoms are caused by another disorder. If you’re living in the New York area, don’t hesitate to contact us today to schedule an appointment with the best ENT doctor in NYC.
Contact us at 212-867-4813 to schedule a consultation.
