Do you also suddenly feel dizzy and lose your hearing? Let's learn about Ménière's Disease!

Imagine that you are working on something and suddenly the whole world seems to be spinning around you. At the same time, you hear a strange "goo..." sound in your ear, and you feel as if you are losing hearing in one ear more than the other. Isn't this a very scary and uncomfortable experience? This is the discomfort that often comes with Ménière's Disease. Although it is not as common as you might think, it is very important to be aware of this condition.

Simply put, what is Ménière's Disease?

Meniere's disease is a condition that occurs in our inner ear. Our inner ear is primarily responsible for both our body's balance and hearing. So when this disease develops, the functioning of both these systems becomes disrupted.

The main symptom is a feeling that the whole world is spinning even when you are still. In medicine, we call this vertigo . Also, hearing different sounds in the ears, as if someone is saying 'whoo' in the ear, is a symptom. We call this tinnitus . These symptoms start suddenly, without any warning , and disappear after a while. However, they can reappear after a while.

If left untreated, symptoms can worsen over time. You may even experience permanent hearing loss and balance problems . But don't worry. By working with your doctor to find the right treatment for you, you can manage the condition and live a healthy life.

What are the main symptoms of this disease?

The symptoms of Meniere's disease come on suddenly. We call this an "attack" or an "episode." An "attack" can last as short as 20 minutes, or as long as 24 hours. Some people have several "attacks" in a row. Also, some people can go months or years without any symptoms.

Let us talk more clearly about these main features in the table below.

In addition to these main symptoms, some people may also experience nausea and vomiting .

Why do we get this disease?

In fact, doctors have not yet found the exact cause of Meniere's disease. However, there is one main theory that many people believe.

That is, the fluid called endolymph in our inner ear accumulates too much. Think of it, our inner ear is like a small tube system. The ``endolymph`` fluid inside this tube helps send signals to the brain that control our balance and hearing. If for some reason this fluid accumulates too much, the pressure inside that tube increases, and that signal system is completely disrupted. That is when symptoms like dizziness and ringing in the ears appear.

There are several reasons why the ``endolymph`` fluid can accumulate in this way:

• Allergies: Some allergies can cause fluid to accumulate in the inner ear.
• Inner ear obstruction: A blockage in the passageways through which fluid flows.
• Head injuries: This condition can occur after a severe head injury.
• Infections: Viral or bacterial infections.
• Migraine headaches: Some studies have found a link between migraines and Meniere's disease.

Who is most at risk of developing this disease?

Although anyone can develop Meniere's disease, some people are at a slightly higher risk.

• Age: This disease is most commonly seen in people between the ages of 40 and 60 .
• Gender: According to some studies, women are at slightly higher risk than men.
• Heredity: Between 7% and 10% of people with the disease have a family member who has the disease, meaning there may be some genetic influence.
• Autoimmune diseases: These are diseases in which our body's immune system attacks our own body's cells. For example, people with diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are at higher risk of developing Meniere's disease.

What are the possible complications of this disease?

Severe vertigo caused by Meniere's disease can be very dangerous.

Over time (usually after 8-10 years), this disease can lead to permanent hearing loss .

In addition to these physical effects, Meniere's disease can also have a significant impact on your mental health . Constantly thinking about things like "When will I feel dizzy again?" and "Will I lose my hearing completely?" can lead to anxiety and depression . Therefore, it is important to talk openly with your doctor about these physical discomforts, as well as the mental stress you are feeling.

Doctor, how do you diagnose this?

If you have these symptoms, you should see an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor. He or she will examine you and ask about your symptoms. They may also do some tests to rule out other conditions that have similar symptoms to Meniere's disease.

• Hearing test: Check your hearing level.
• Vestibular test battery: Several tests that check how your inner ear balance system and eye muscles are working.
• Brain MRI scan: To check for a brain tumor or other problem that could be causing dizziness.

What are the treatments? What do we do about this?

There is no cure for Meniere's disease. However, there are many treatments that can help control symptoms and reduce the severity and duration of an attack . Your doctor will try simple treatments first. If they don't work, they may consider surgery.

Lifestyle changes

Sometimes, just changing our daily habits can bring great relief.

• Reduce salt intake: Doctors recommend no more than 1,500 milligrams of salt per day. That's about ¾ of a teaspoon. It's also a good idea to reduce your intake of foods containing MSG (Monosodium glutamate).
• Reducing caffeine and alcohol.
• Managing stress and getting enough sleep.

Medications

Your doctor may prescribe various medications to control your symptoms.

Other treatments

• Vestibular rehabilitation: This is similar to physical therapy. It teaches you specific exercises to help improve your balance and control your dizziness.
• Hearing aids: If your hearing is severely impaired, you may need to use a hearing aid.
• Cochlear implant: This surgery can be performed on people who have almost completely lost their hearing and are unable to use hearing aids.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This treatment method helps to successfully deal with the stress, anxiety, and depression caused by this disease.

Surgery

Surgery is considered in very severe cases where no other treatment can control symptoms. This involves reducing fluid pressure in the inner ear or cutting a nerve involved in balance. These are very rare treatments.