Over time, Meniere's Disease can cause hearing loss, even deafness.
Meniere's disease is a long-term disease of the inner ear that occurs when there is a change in the fluid inside the ear. It can cause inner ear infections, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, tinnitus, and even deafness. The disease presents itself equally among the sexes but is more predominant in the Caucasian race. The majority of those affected are between 20 and 50 years of age. With a change in diet and lifestyle, Meniere's disease can be manageable.
Causes
Although the cause of Meniere's disease is still unknown, it does seem to be hereditary. Other factors suspected to cause the disease are injuries to the head and ears, exposure to loud noises, and plumbing problems within the ear that cause fluid buildup or the mixing of inner ear fluids after a rupture of the lining within the ear itself.
Symptoms
In the early stages of Meniere's disease, individuals suffer from episodes of vertigo, nausea, and vomiting. The vertigo affects balance and can cause sudden falling. Additionally, there is a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear and some loss of hearing or tinnitus, which is noise in the ear. In most instances both ears are affected over time. Also, migraines and the tendency to be affected by viral infections occur more frequently in people with Meniere's disease than in a normal individual.
Managing an Attack
When an episode presents itself, lying down on a flat surface and remaining motionless can alleviate some of the nausea and vomiting. Also, sufferers should avoid eating or drinking until the nausea has passed.
Treatment
At this time Meniere's disease is treatable but not curable. Although there are many treatments for the vertigo, nausea, and vomiting associated with the disease, there are no treatments for the loss of hearing other than hearing aids. The tinnitus, or noises in the ear, can be controlled with white noise generators. There are also medications available for each of the symptoms, depending upon their severity.
Considerations
In some instances a change in diet has been known to alleviate symptoms of Meniere's disease. Foods and drinks that contains caffeine, such as chocolate, tea, and soda, seem to make the symptoms worse because of their high stimulant content. The best diet for a sufferer of Meniere's disease is regular meals containing low salt content. Also, smoking and stress seem to increase the onset of the symptoms.
Tags: Meniere disease, nausea vomiting, change diet, even deafness, loss hearing