Meniere’s disease’s unpredictable pattern could be worse than its symptoms

Meniere’s disease may not be life-threatening, but it can rob a person of their quality of life and create bouts of anxiety over its unpredictable pattern.

Meniere’s disease is diagnosed when a person has a triad of symptoms that include episodic vertigo, tinnitus or ringing in the ears and hearing loss. Each of these symptoms alone can have an impact on a person, but when combined they can deliver a powerful blow socially, emotionally and professionally, said Dr. Dominik Greda, with Premier ENT Associates.

“Just imagine someone who works in a high-risk occupation like a truck driver, and they get a sudden attack of vertigo. It’s disabling and can keep them from performing any type of activity, especially if symptoms are frequent and come on with no warning,” said Dr. Greda, who practices with Premier Physician Network. “It causes a lot of anxiety for a person when he or she can’t determine the consequences that could come from getting an attack at the wrong time.”

The symptoms of Meniere’s disease are caused by the buildup of fluid in the compartments of the inner ear,

called the labyrinth. The labyrinth is responsible for providing the body a sense of balance and plays a significant role in a person’s ability to hear.

According to the National Institutes of Health, attacks of dizziness may come on suddenly or after a short period of tinnitus or muffled hearing. Attacks can happen in isolation separated by long periods of time or may happen closer together over a period of days. In rare occasions, a person may have “drop attacks,” which is vertigo so severe that they lose their balance and fall, the NIH said.

Adults between the ages of 40 and 60 are most likely to develop Meniere’s disease. Three main theories have been put forth to explain why someone develops the condition. Researchers believe that it could be the result of constricted blood vessels, like those that bring on migraine headaches. Others think it could be the result of viral infections, allergies or autoimmune reactions. There’s also believed to be a strong genetic component, as abnormalities in the volume of fluid in the ear run in the family, the NIH said.

“Most patients will have symptoms of some degree of hearing loss and dizziness for up to five years before the condition is formally diagnosed,” Dr. Greda said.

“It’s important to tailor a patient’s expectations of their long-term outcome with the disease because we cannot cure it,” Dr. Greda said. “Our underlying goal is to control the attacks of vertigo and hearing loss, which are the two most bothersome symptoms for patients. And we can do that really well.”

About 90 percent of patients can control both symptoms through lifestyle modifications and medication. A diet low in sodium and dairy has been shown to help manage symptoms. It’s also important to identify triggers such as caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, stress or allergies. A third and effective treatment includes vestibular rehabilitation, which involves exercises to maximize a person’s balance and central nervous system to help correct the imbalance in the inner ear.

For more information about Meniere’s disease, or to schedule an appointment with a Premier Physician Network provider near you, visit PremierHealth.com/MakeAnAppointment.