Meniere’s Disease is a difficult ailment characterized by extreme dizziness (vertigo) and ear ringing. Hearing loss and fullness in the ear may also be present.
Meniere’s Disease is most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 60; thus, most individuals don’t have it until later in life. If you’re experiencing symptoms like these, it’s important to seek medical guidance to receive treatment.
Continue reading to learn the tell-tale indicators of Meniere’s Disease and where you can find hearing aids in Massachusetts.
Indicators of Meniere’s Disease
Drop episodes, which involve dizziness that can last several days and generally follow a period of muted hearing or tinnitus, are common in those who suffer from this illness. These episodes might be so strong that they lead someone to lose their equilibrium and fall.
Factors That Cause Meniere’s Disease
The symptoms of Meniere’s Disease are usually caused by a buildup of fluid in the inner ear. The balance and hearing organs are located here, so Meniere’s Disease may cause many hearing and dizziness issues.
Furthermore, some experts believe it is caused by a constriction of the blood vessels, similar to what occurs when someone suffers from a migraine. It might also be caused by a viral infection or an autoimmune reaction, and a genetic variant because it runs in families.
Meniere’s Disease Diagnosis
Specialists in ear, nose, and throat (ENT) are frequently consulted to diagnose Meniere’s Disease. They take a medical history and search for symptoms including tinnitus, several episodes of vertigo lasting 20 minutes or more, and temporary hearing loss.
A hearing test can identify the severity of hearing loss, and an MRI to rule out other disorders as a cause of the symptoms.
Meniere’s Disease Treatment
Unfortunately, there is no definite cure for Meniere’s Disease; however, your ENT expert can suggest various treatment options and hearing care solutions to manage the illness. These are some of them:
- Dizziness medication to help you feel better. Because dizziness is the most difficult aspect of Meniere’s Disease, various drugs, including diazepam and lorazepam, can be taken to aid.
- A change in eating habits. Reduced salt consumption, in particular, can help regulate dizziness by lowering the quantity of water retained by the body. Reducing coffee and alcohol use, as well as quitting smoking, may help.
- Cognitive-behavioral treatment. This can be beneficial in assisting with the processing of stressful sensations, particularly in terms of concern about future occurrences.
- Surgery. If all other therapies have failed, surgery may be a possibility.
Self-Care At Home
Meniere’s illness can be lessened with certain self-care techniques. Consider the following suggestions for usage during an attack:
- If you’re dizzy, sit or lie down. Avoid items that might aggravate your symptoms during a vertigo attack, such as abrupt movement, strong lighting, watching television, or reading. Try to concentrate on a stationary item.
- Take a break during and after an assault. Don’t rush back to your routine.
- Keep in mind that you may lose your equilibrium. A fall might result in catastrophic harm. If you have to get up in the middle of the night, make sure you have excellent illumination.
Changes in Lifestyle
Try the following to prevent initiating a vertigo attack.
- Keep your salt intake to a minimum. Consuming salty meals and beverages might cause fluid retention. Aim for fewer than 2,300 mg of salt per day for general wellness. According to experts, salt intake should also be spaced out throughout the day.
- Caffeine, alcohol, and cigarettes should all be avoided. These drugs can mess with your ear’s fluid balance.
Conclusion
Meniere’s Disease poses many obstacles; therefore, it’s critical to get identified as soon as possible to begin treatment. Inner ear diseases are usually treated by otolaryngologists, or ear, nose, and throat specialists. If you have tinnitus, hearing loss, or dizziness, contact your health care physician for a referral to an ENT physician, or go to a local hearing center for hearing aids. If you encounter abrupt hearing loss, get treatment immediately once.
Hear More Associates are here to assist you. Our mission as the most dependable hearing care professionals is to give comfort and care to our patients while meeting their demands. If you’re searching for hearing aids in Massachusetts, make an appointment.