Are you feeling dizzy? Do you hear noises in your ears? Let's talk about Meniere's Disease

Do you sometimes feel like the whole world is spinning? At the same time, do you hear a 'ringing' sound from inside your ear, and your ear feels a little heavy? If you have had this experience, you may have a condition that many people are not aware of, but which can cause a lot of discomfort. Today we are talking about Meniere's Disease . Don't worry, let's understand everything about this simply.

What exactly is Meniere's Disease?

Simply put, Meniere's disease is a rare condition that affects our inner ear . It can cause three main symptoms:

• Vertigo : This isn't just a spinning sensation. It's a feeling that everything around you is spinning violently, even though you're standing still.
• Tinnitus : A persistent ringing, buzzing, or other noise in the ear.
• Hearing loss : Hearing loss can occur gradually. Sometimes this can be permanent.

Most of the time, this condition only affects one ear. It is a progressive condition, meaning that symptoms may become more severe over time.

Okay, why is this happening to us?

The main reason for this is the accumulation of a special fluid called endolymph in our inner ear. Imagine, inside our inner ear there are very sensitive parts that control the body's balance and capture sound.

1. Cochlea : This is a fluid-filled part of the cochlea, shaped like a snail's shell. When sound waves come in, this fluid vibrates and sends signals to the brain, which is how we hear sound. So when this fluid builds up, that process can be disrupted and hearing can be impaired.

2. Vestibular labyrinth : This is the main part of our body that controls our balance. Just like the accelerometer in our phone, this part sends signals to the brain about our position and movement. So when the fluid pressure there increases, those signals get confused, which causes vertigo.

Although it is not yet known exactly why this fluid accumulates, doctors believe there are several reasons:

• Allergic reactions or autoimmune conditions: These are diseases in which our body's own defense system attacks our own cells (e.g., Rheumatoid arthritis, Systemic lupus erythematosus)
• Viral infections
• Genetic factors
• Narrowing of blood vessels: Similar to what happens during a migraine.

It is believed that Meniere's disease is often caused by one or more of these factors combined.

Symptoms and stages of Meniere's disease

The symptoms of this disease may appear suddenly, disappear after a few days, and then reappear. Let's look at these symptoms clearly in a table.

This disease can occur in three main stages.

First stage (early period)

During this time, dizziness may occur unexpectedly and suddenly. At that time, hearing may also decrease and the ear may feel full. However, once the dizziness disappears, hearing may return to normal.

Second stage (intermediate period)

During this time, dizziness may continue, but may be less severe. However, hearing will begin to decline permanently to some extent. Tinnitus may also increase.

Third stage (later period)

At this stage, the dizziness may almost completely stop. However, hearing is greatly reduced and may be permanently damaged. Since the organs that control balance in the body have been permanently damaged, it may be difficult to maintain balance, especially when walking in the dark.

How do you find this, Doctor?

Diagnosing Meniere's disease can be a bit tricky because these symptoms can also be seen in other conditions. Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and run some tests to make sure there are no other causes.

To be diagnosed with Meniere's disease, you must have the following:

• Having had vertigo at least twice.
• Hearing loss confirmed by a hearing test .
• Hearing a ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or having a feeling of fullness in the ears .

Some of the main tests performed for this purpose are:

• Hearing tests (Audiometry): A test that checks how well you hear at different sound levels.
• Balance testing (Vestibular tests):
• VNG/ENG test: Your eye movements are measured in a dark room.
• Rotary chair testing: You are rotated in a computer-controlled chair and your eye movements are tested.
• Other specialized tests like this (`VEMP`, `CDP`, `vHIT`) check how well the parts of the inner ear that control balance are working.
• Other tests: An MRI or CT scan may be done to make sure there is no other cause, such as a brain tumor.

What are the treatments for this?

Your doctor will first start with simple treatments that have fewer side effects.

1. Lifestyle changes:

• Low-salt diet: Reducing salt (sodium) intake is very important to reduce fluid retention in the body. Avoid canned foods, sauces, and foods high in salt.
• Avoiding certain foods: Things like caffeine (coffee, tea), chocolate, and alcohol can worsen symptoms.

2. Types of medicines:

• Medicines for dizziness: Medicines like ``(Betahistine)`` can be used to control vertigo.
• Nausea medication: Control vomiting and nausea.
• Diuretics (“water pills”): Medicines given to reduce the amount of extra fluid in the body and ears.
• Anti-anxiety medications: Medications such as `(Diazepam)` can be given for a short period of time in case of sudden vertigo.

3. Other treatment methods:

• Vestibular rehabilitation therapy: This is similar to physiotherapy . It is a series of exercises that retrain the brain to maintain balance.
• Middle ear injection: If symptoms cannot be controlled, the doctor may inject a steroid or an antibiotic called ``Gentamicin'' into the middle ear.

4. Surgery:

Surgery is only recommended for those with very severe symptoms that cannot be controlled by other treatments. There are various surgical procedures, such as `(Labyrinthectomy)` and `(Endolymphatic sac decompression)`. Your doctor will explain these to you.

How to manage this condition at home?

It is very important not to panic when you feel dizzy.

• When you feel dizzy:
• Sit or lie down immediately. Do not make sudden movements.
• Avoid bright lights, loud noises, and watching television.
• Stare at a single, non-moving object.
• Rest: You may feel tired after a headache. Get plenty of rest and resume work as soon as possible.
• Identify triggers: Find out what things make your symptoms worse. For example:
• Standing up suddenly, turning your head quickly.
• Bending down (if you are picking up something on the floor, bend your knees).
• Stress, overwork.
• Some dishes.

Let's also learn about driving and flying.

If you have Meniere's disease, you should be very careful about driving.

• If you experience sudden dizziness (vertigo) or a “drop attack,” avoid driving altogether. This is very important for your safety and that of others.
• You may be legally required to notify your driver's license issuing agency and insurance company about this.
• It's not usually a big problem on flights. However, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol on the plane.

Meniere's Disease, vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, inner ear, balance