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Ménière’s Disease : Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & How to Manage



Minal, a 52-year-old housewife, had always been active and managed her home with ease—cooking, cleaning, and caring for her family. But one morning, as she stood in the kitchen preparing tea, she suddenly felt strange.

The room started to spin, her ears filled with a loud buzzing sound, and her vision blurred. A wave of nausea hit her, and before she could steady herself, her legs gave out. She collapsed onto the floor, gripping the kitchen counter for support. Her heart pounded as fear took over—what was happening to her?

Her husband rushed to help, thinking it might be low blood pressure or dehydration. After resting for a while, she felt better, but a few days later, the spinning sensation returned, even stronger than before. Over time, she started noticing constant ringing in her ears and occasional hearing loss. Simple tasks, like walking to the door or bending down, felt risky because of the dizziness.

After multiple doctor visits and medical tests, Minal finally got her answer—she had Ménière’s disease.

What is Ménière’s Disease?

Ménière’s disease is a chronic disorder of the inner ear that affects both balance and hearing. It occurs due to an abnormal buildup of fluid in the inner ear, which disrupts normal signals to the brain. This leads to sudden episodes of vertigo (dizziness), hearing loss, ear fullness, and tinnitus (ringing in the ear).

It usually affects only one ear, but in 15-25% of cases, both ears can be involved. The disease can progress over time, sometimes leading to permanent hearing loss.

Who Can Get Ménière’s Disease?

Ménière’s disease can develop at any age, but it is most common in adults between 40 and 60 years old. It is rare in children. According to the American Hearing Research Foundation, around 615,000 people in the U.S. have this condition, with 45,500 new cases diagnosed every year.

How is Ménière’s Disease Diagnosed?

There is no single test to confirm Ménière’s disease. Instead, doctors use a combination of symptoms, medical history, and tests to make a diagnosis.

Common Tests:

✅ Hearing Tests (Audiometry): Measures hearing ability and detects early hearing loss.
✅ Balance Tests (Vestibular Exam): Checks for inner ear dysfunction.
✅ MRI or CT Scan: Rules out other conditions like brain tumors or multiple sclerosis.
✅ Electrocochleography (ECoG): Measures fluid pressure in the inner ear.



The Symptoms of Ménière’s Disease

1. Intense Dizziness (Vertigo)

  • A sudden feeling that everything around is spinning or tilting.
  • Can last from a few minutes to several hours, making it hard to stand or walk.
  • May cause nausea, vomiting, and extreme weakness.
  • In severe cases, sudden “drop attacks” can occur, where the person falls to the ground without warning.

2. Ringing in the Ears (Tinnitus)

  • A constant buzzing, ringing, roaring, or whistling sound in one or both ears.
  • Can be mild or so loud that it makes it hard to concentrate or sleep.
  • Often worsens before or during a vertigo attack.

3. Hearing Loss

  • Sounds may seem muffled, distant, or unclear.
  • Some people struggle to hear low-pitched sounds, while others may lose all hearing in the affected ear over time.
  • Hearing may come and go in early stages but can become permanent in later stages.

4. Fullness or Pressure in the Ear

  • A feeling that the ear is blocked or stuffed, similar to when flying or diving underwater.
  • Can cause discomfort and make hearing even more difficult.
  • Often worsens before a vertigo attack.

Treatment Options for Ménière’s Disease

While there is no cure for Ménière’s disease, various treatments can help reduce symptoms and improve daily life.

1. Lifestyle Changes & Home Remedies

  • Limit Salt Intake: Reducing salt helps control fluid buildup in the inner ear, which may lower the frequency of vertigo attacks.
  • Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps maintain fluid balance in the body.
  • Avoid Triggers: Caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and stress can worsen symptoms.
  • Manage Stress & Anxiety: Meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises may help.
  • Regular Sleep & Rest: Fatigue can worsen dizziness, so a stable sleep schedule is important.

2. Medications for Symptom Relief

For Fluid Control (Diuretics)

  • Acetazolamide (Diamox): Helps reduce excess inner ear fluid, decreasing pressure and dizziness.
  • Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) + Triamterene: Another diuretic combination used to manage fluid retention.

For Dizziness & Nausea

  • Meclizine (Antivert): Reduces vertigo and motion sickness symptoms.
  • Diazepam (Valium): A sedative that helps control severe vertigo attacks.
  • Promethazine (Phenergan): Controls nausea and vomiting.

For Tinnitus & Anxiety

  • Clonazepam (Klonopin): Helps reduce dizziness and ringing in the ears.
  • Amitriptyline: An antidepressant that may help some patients cope with tinnitus.

For Migraine-Related Ménière’s Symptoms

  • Betahistine (Serc): Improves blood flow to the inner ear, often used in Europe but not FDA-approved in the U.S.
  • Calcium Channel Blockers (e.g., Verapamil): Used in some cases where migraine-like symptoms accompany Ménière’s disease.

3. Physical Therapy (Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy - VRT)

  • Special exercises to improve balance and train the brain to adapt to inner ear problems.

4. Hearing Aids & Assistive Devices

  • Hearing aids improve sound clarity for those experiencing hearing loss.
  • Tinnitus maskers or white noise machines help reduce the impact of ringing in the ears.

5. Injections for Severe Cases

  • Steroid Injections (Dexamethasone): Help reduce inflammation and vertigo with minimal side effects.
  • Gentamicin Injection: Destroys part of the balance function in the affected ear to reduce vertigo, but may cause further hearing loss.

6. Surgical Options (For Extreme Cases)

  • Endolymphatic Sac Surgery: Helps drain excess fluid from the inner ear.
  • Labyrinthectomy: Removes inner ear structures to completely stop vertigo but results in total hearing loss in the affected ear.
  • Vestibular Nerve Section: The nerve responsible for balance is cut to stop vertigo attacks while preserving hearing.

Final Thoughts

·       Ménière’s disease is unpredictable and frustrating, but with the right treatment and lifestyle changes, most people can lead a normal life.

·         If you or someone you know is experiencing dizziness, ringing in the ears, or hearing loss, don’t ignore it! Visit an ENT specialist for a check-up.

External Resources & Links

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