<p id="page-title">Meniere&#39;s disease is an inner ear disorder that affects balance and hearing.</p>

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<h2>Causes</h2>

<p>The inner ear contains fluid-filled tubes called semicircular canals, or labyrinths. These canals, along with a nerve in your skull, help interpret your body&#39;s position and maintain your balance.</p>

<p>The exact cause of Meniere&#39;s disease is unknown. It may occur when the pressure of the fluid in part of the inner ear gets too high.</p>

<p>In some cases, Meniere&#39;s disease may be related to:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Head injury</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000638.htm">Middle or inner ear infection</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Other risk factors include:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Allergies</li>
	<li>Alcohol use</li>
	<li>Family history</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003088.htm">Fatigue</a></li>
	<li>Recent viral illness</li>
	<li>Respiratory infection</li>
	<li>Smoking</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003211.htm">Stress</a></li>
	<li>Use of certain medications</li>
</ul>

<h2>Symptoms</h2>

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<p>Attacks or episodes of Meniere&#39;s disease often start without warning. They may occur daily, or as rarely as once a year. The severity of each episode can vary.</p>

<p>Meniere&#39;s disease usually has four main symptoms:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Drop in hearing</li>
	<li>Pressure in the ear</li>
	<li>Ringing or roaring in the affected ear</li>
	<li>Vertigo</li>
</ul>

<p>Severe&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003093.htm">vertigo</a>&nbsp;or dizziness is the symptom that causes the most problems. People who have vertigo feel as though they are spinning or moving, or that the world is spinning around them.</p>

<ul>
	<li>Severe nausea, vomiting, and sweating often occur.</li>
	<li>Symptoms get worse with sudden movement.</li>
	<li>Often, the person will need to lie down.</li>
	<li>The dizziness and feeling of being off-balance will last from about 20 minutes to a few hours.</li>
</ul>

<p><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003044.htm">Hearing loss</a>&nbsp;may occur. Usually the hearing loss is only in one ear, but it may affect both ears.</p>

<ul>
	<li>A person&#39;s hearing tends to recover between attacks but gets worse over time</li>
	<li>Low frequency hearing is lost first</li>
	<li>Roaring or ringing in the ear (<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003043.htm">tinnitus</a>), as well as a sense of pressure in the ear are common</li>
</ul>

<p>Other symptoms include:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Diarrhea</li>
	<li>Headaches</li>
	<li>Pain or discomfort in the abdomen</li>
	<li>Nausea and vomiting</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003037.htm">Uncontrollable eye movements</a></li>
</ul>

<h2>Exams and tests</h2>

<p>A brain and nervous system (neurological) examination may show problems with hearing, balance, or eye movement.</p>

<p>A hearing test or audiogram will show the hearing loss that occurs with Meniere&#39;s. Hearing may be near normal after an attack.</p>

<p>A procedure called&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003429.htm">caloric stimulation</a>&nbsp;tests eye reflexes by warming and cooling the inner ear with water. Abnormal results on this test can be a sign of Meniere&#39;s disease.</p>

<p>The following tests may also be done to distinguish Meniere&#39;s disease from other causes of vertigo:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Electrocochleography (ECOG)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003448.htm">Electronystagmography</a>&nbsp;(ENG) or videonystagmography (VNG)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003791.htm">Head MRI scan</a></li>
</ul>

<h2>Treatment</h2>

<p>There is no known cure for Meniere&#39;s disease. However, lifestyle changes and some treatments can often help relieve symptoms.</p>

<p>Your doctor may suggest ways to decrease the amount of water or fluid in your body. This can often help control symptoms.</p>

<ul>
	<li>Water pills (diuretics) may help relieve fluid pressure in the inner ear</li>
	<li>A low-salt diet may also help (See:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002415.htm">Sodium in diet</a>)</li>
</ul>

<p>Other changes that may help with the symptoms and keep you safe include:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Avoid sudden movements, which may worsen symptoms. You may need help walking when you lose balance during attacks.</li>
	<li>Avoid bright lights, TV, and reading during attacks, because they may make symptoms worse. Rest during severe episodes, and slowly increase your activity.</li>
	<li>Avoid activities such as driving, operating heavy machinery, and climbing until 1 week after your symptoms disappear. A sudden dizzy spell during these activities can be dangerous.</li>
	<li>Gradually resume your activity after episodes.</li>
	<li>Keep still and rest when you have symptoms.</li>
</ul>

<p>Symptoms of Meniere&#39;s disease can cause stress. Make healthy lifestyle choices to help you cope:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet. Don&#39;t overeat.</li>
	<li>Exercise regularly, if possible.</li>
	<li>Get enough sleep.</li>
	<li>Learn and practice relaxation techniques, such as guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, tai chi, or meditation.</li>
	<li>Limit caffeine and alcohol.</li>
</ul>

<p>Your health care provider may prescribe medicines for nausea and vomiting. Symptoms such as dizziness and vertigo may respond to sedative/hypnotics and benzodiazepines.</p>

<p>You may need ear surgery if your symptoms are severe and do not respond to other treatments.</p>

<ul>
	<li>Cutting the vestibular nerve with a surgical procedure helps control vertigo. It does not damage hearing.</li>
	<li>Placing an antibiotic called gentamicin directly into the middle ear can help control vertigo.</li>
	<li>Removing part of the inner ear with a procedure called labyrinthectomy helps with vertigo, but it causes complete hearing loss.</li>
</ul>

<p>Hearing aids may be needed for severe hearing loss.</p>

<h2>Prognosis</h2>

<p>The outcome varies. Meniere&#39;s disease can often be controlled with treatment.</p>

<p>The condition may get better on its own. However, Meniere&#39;s may be&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002312.htm">chronic</a>&nbsp;or disabling.</p>

<h2>Possible complications</h2>

<ul>
	<li>Inability to walk or function due to uncontrollable vertigo</li>
	<li>Hearing loss on the affected side</li>
</ul>

<h2>When to contact a doctor</h2>

<p>Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms of Meniere&#39;s disease, such as hearing loss, ringing in the ears, or dizziness, occur or worsen.</p>

<h2>Prevention</h2>

<p>There is no known prevention for Meniere&#39;s disease, but prompt treatment of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001336.htm">ear infection</a>&nbsp;and other related disorders may be helpful.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Source:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000702.htm">http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000702.htm</a></p>

<p>Vomiting (<a href="http://symptomaster.com/client/main?user_action=user_action_from_external_url&amp;need_auth_guest=1&amp;external_symptom_id=2202&amp;gender_id=2" target="_blank">female</a>)</p>

<p>Hearing Loss (<a href="http://symptomaster.com/client/main?user_action=user_action_from_external_url&amp;need_auth_guest=1&amp;external_symptom_id=1121&amp;gender_id=1" target="_blank">male</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://symptomaster.com/client/main?user_action=user_action_from_external_url&amp;need_auth_guest=1&amp;external_symptom_id=1121&amp;gender_id=2" target="_blank">female</a>)</p>

<p>Vertigo (<a href="http://symptomaster.com/client/main?user_action=user_action_from_external_url&amp;need_auth_guest=1&amp;external_symptom_id=766&amp;gender_id=1" target="_blank">male</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://symptomaster.com/client/main?user_action=user_action_from_external_url&amp;need_auth_guest=1&amp;external_symptom_id=766&amp;gender_id=2" target="_blank">female</a>)</p>
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