Ménière’s disease is a chronic condition that cannot be cured, rather it can be managed to prevent symptoms from affecting daily life. Ménière’s disease causes sudden, violent episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and ear fullness.
These attacks happen for weeks or months, with symptom-free periods in between. About 50% of people with Ménière’s disease experience it in both ears.
People diagnosed with Ménière’s disease often have endolymphatic hydrops; however, not all people diagnosed with endolymphatic hydrops have Ménière’s disease.
Treatment
Ménière’s disease is a chronic condition that cannot be cured, rather it can be managed to prevent symptoms from affecting daily life. It causes sudden, violent episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and ear fullness. These attacks happen for weeks or months, with symptom-free periods in between. About 50% of people with this disease experience it in both ears.
Treatment is aimed to reduce the frequency and intensity of symptoms, manage acute attacks, prevent damage to hearing and balance, and maintain quality of life.
Management:
- Reduce caffeine and alcohol intake
- Stay hydrated at all times
- Eat a balanced diet (lower salt and sugar intake)
- Medication (for dizziness, nausea, and vomiting)
- Diuretics
- Vestibular rehabilitation
- Steroid injections (antibiotic gentamicin or corticosteroid methylprednisolone)
Vestibular rehabilitation, also called balance retraining, involves carefully practicing movements that make the person dizzy. Over time, the brain learns to cope with these movements and balance improves. In addition, lifestyle changes and stress-reduction techniques can help reduce symptoms.
