What is the outlook for Meniere's disease?

You may think that treatment from an ENT Specialist in Karachi has resulted in complete cure from Meniere’s disease. However, in reality, this disease always comes back. What exactly is Meniere’s disease, and what is the outlook for this disease? Read on to find out:

What is Meniere’s disease?

Spells of dizziness and vertigo, combined with progressive hearing loss and ringing in the ear is what constitutes Meniere’s disease. This disease mostly affects one ear at a time, and is more common in young to middle-aged adults.

In Meniere’s, there is an imbalance in the inner ear fluid, which normally translates the sound wave signal for the brain. In pathological states, as with Meniere’s, this fluid triggers ringing in the ear, pressure sensation in the ear and vertigo.

It is not clear exactly what causes Meniere’s disease; the probable culprits include: viral infection, genetics and abnormal immune response. Despite the causative factor, the management of disease is symptomatic. In addition to medication prescribed for Meniere’s, measures like dietary modification, lifestyle changes and stress relief play an important role in treatment.

What are the treatment options?

The treatment options include:

Medication: medication prescribed for Meniere’s includes:
- Antiemetic: drugs like prochlorperazine are helpful in decreasing nausea and vomiting.
- Anti-motion sickness: drugs like diazepam and meclizine manage vertigo.
- Diuretic: help to prevent fluid buildup in the body.
- Steroids: these drugs decrease the autoimmune response and inflammation in the body.
- Antibiotics: injection of gentamicin in the ear helps to improve symptoms.
Surgery
- Endolymphatic sac procedure: this procedure decompresses the inner ear to control fluid there.
- Resection of vestibular nerve: cutting this nerve corrects vertigo.
- Resection of labyrinth: is performed in people with near-total hearing loss to improve balance and hearing.
Hearing aids: audiologist can fit the patient with hearing aids to improve hearing loss.

What is the alternative treatment for Meniere’s disease?

Lifestyle changes
- Adequate rest: periods of over-activity and inadequate rest can trigger disease activity. Thus, patients should refrain from over-exerting themselves and should rest when need be.
- Decreasing stress: another prompter of acute attack is stress and anxiety. Decreasing stress through meditation and yoga can help decrease attack frequency.
- Smoking cessation: cigarette smoking is pro-inflammatory and can set off the symptoms of Meniere’s. Quitting smoking is helpful for these patients.
Dietary changes
- Decreasing salt intake: excessive salt in the diet causes retention of fluid in the body. Limiting the intake of salt in cooking, and avoiding excessive salt from packaged food is better for patients with Meniere’s disease.
- Consuming less caffeine: research shows that caffeine and energy drinks can trigger Meniere’s. Avoiding caffeine intake or limiting it can be effective for such patients.
- Avoiding tyramine: this amino acid is found in foods like cheese, yogurt and meat. Consumption of tyramine is linked to migraines, which in turn can initiate an acute attack of Meniere’s.
- Adequate hydration: patients with Meniere’s should drink plenty of fluid throughout the day. At least 8 to 10 glasses of water should be consume daily, And this intake should increase in hot weather and during exercise.
Herbal supplements: supplements like gingko biloba, and ginger roots and procedures like acupressure and acupuncture have proven beneficial in relieving vertigo in some patients. However, more research is needed regarding their benefit.
Positive pressure treatment: The Food and Drug Authority (FDA) has approved the use of a small device for treatment of Meniere’s disease. This device is use to release small puffs of air pressure into the ear for counteracting fluid buildup in the inner ear. This helps to reduce vertigo and dizziness associated with Meniere’s.