Ménière’s disease
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Ménière’s disease is a medical disorder that has an effect on the inner ear. It can impair your balance and hearing, making life frustrating.
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Ménière’s disease is a medical disorder that affects the inner ear. This can cause uncomfortable symptoms relating to your hearing and balance. When people suffer with Ménière’s disease they usually have attacks of vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus. When these symptoms come on suddenly they usually last a few hours, but some people find their attacks to be shorter or longer.
Anyone can be affected by Ménière’s disease. It tends to be a lot more common in those who already suffer with migraines or have frequent problems with their immune system. It’s also a lot more common in women between 30 and 60 years old, and can run in the family. Other risk factors that increase your chances of developing Ménière’s disease are:
Ménière’s disease is incredibly rare - even as a form of vertigo it’s very uncommon. It’s been estimated that out of every 100,000 people in the UK, only 13.1 of them have Ménière’s disease.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
It’s not fully understood what causes Ménière’s disease. It seems to be an issue that develops due to the fluid levels in your inner ear, but a lot of different aspects (such as those stated above) can make you more likely to develop it. It can also be associated with complications following falls, adverse psychological impacts and even social effects.
When someone’s initially showing symptoms of Ménière’s disease, the actual way in which they develop can vary. They alter between different episodes of dizziness, and as it progresses people might begin to suffer with hearing loss or persistent tinnitus. A clinician might also suspect Ménière’s disease if you go to them with episodes of spontaneous vertigo and aural fullness (when there’s pressure in your ear that you can’t relieve). Your symptoms of vertigo might resolve, but it could be the case that residual hearing loss and tinnitus continue.
You’ll only receive a definite diagnosis of Ménière’s disease, though, if:
You’ll usually only receive confirmation of the diagnosis when it’s been delivered by an ENT (ear, nose and throat) consultant. This is necessary, as is a formal audiology assessment.
It’s not usually the case that Ménière’s disease leads to serious complications, but there can be some problems that people might suffer with over time. One of these is due to the fact that one of the symptoms is spontaneous bursts of vertigo. Some people with Ménière’s disease have ‘drop attacks’ where they fall to the floor.
The main issue that can arise through drop attacks are physical injuries that occur as a result of the fall. The best way that you can prevent injuries such as this is to make sure that you’re in safe surroundings whenever you feel like there’s an attack coming on.
Another potential complication comes in the form of psychological effects, as a lot of people who have Ménière’s disease can sometimes also develop anxiety, depression and agoraphobia. You may develop work-related issues like not being able to operate heavy machinery or work at height too.
You might also need to change the way you carry out some tasks or activities in your day-to-day life in case you experience an unexpected attack.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
You’ll usually take medications which target dizziness in order to treat symptoms of Ménière’s disease. This includes antihistamines, such as cinnarizine, and drugs that act in a similar way to antihistamines, like betahistine. These treatments should be taken when you feel an attack coming on, or when you start noticing the warning signs of it (sometimes called an aura).
No one person is the same, so there’s no guaranteeing what treatment will be best for you. Some people find that taking betahistine reduces the severity of their attacks, and makes them less frequent. Whilst there’s no apparent cure for Ménière’s disease, many people find that they can manage their symptoms and condition using medications. On some occasions where treatments aren’t working to control your symptoms you might need to go to hospital so that they can keep you safe and hydrated.
It won’t always be necessary to undergo treatment when you have Ménière’s disease, but the symptoms can be quite distressing and get in the way of your everyday life, so a lot of people will opt for treatment. It’s worth noting that if your symptoms are strong or persistent, you might not be able to drive.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
Meniere’s disease. BMJ, 349(nov12 9), pp.g6544–g6544.
Population-Based Study on the Epidemiology of Ménière’s Disease. Audiology and Neurotology, 22(2), pp.74–82.
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