Meniere's syndrome refers to diseases of the inner ear, which is caused by an increase in the amount of fluid in the tympanic cavity. Excess fluid adversely affects cells that are responsible for maintaining balance and for the orientation of the body in space.
Meniere's Syndrome: Causes
Meniere's syndrome can occur in almost healthy people, but there are some prerequisites that to one degree or another determine the onset of this disease:
- Various vascular diseases.
- Inflammatory and infectious diseases of the inner ear.
- The consequences of traumatic brain injuries, ear injuries.
- Occupational hazards: vibration, noise.
- Vegetative-vascular, endocrine diseases.
- Allergic diseases, vitamin deficiency.
- Excessive use of alcohol, tobacco, coffee.
- Strokes, brain tumors.
Meniere's Syndrome: Symptoms and Clinic
Meniere's syndrome most often begins with an attack of systemic dizziness , an imbalance, increased sweating, nausea, vomiting, pressure surges, pallor of the skin. With an attack, the patient often loses orientation in space, can neither sit nor lie. Dizziness manifests itself in the form of rotation of surrounding objects in one direction, sometimes there is a feeling of failure of one's own body. Progressive hearing loss develops, first on one, then on the second ear. Tinnitus amplifies before dizziness begins and reaches its peak during an attack.
Meniere's disease equally often occurs in both men and women at 30-60 years old, sometimes at an earlier age. The disease haunts the patient all his life, most often leading him to hypofunction of the vestibular analyzer and to progressive deafness. The clinical course of the disease is divided into seizures and interictal periods. In some cases, the attack can be accompanied by hallucinatory and psychogenic reactions, groundless attacks of fear and anxiety. At this time, the patient can be irritated by smell, noise, bright light, and nausea and vomiting cause painful suffering.
Meniere's Syndrome: Diagnosis
In order to diagnose Meniere's disease , an audiological examination is most often performed (reveals the causes and level of hearing impairment), vestibulological examination (reveals an imbalance), electrocochleography (assesses the condition of the inner ear). For an accurate diagnosis, it will be useful to have an MRI and consult an experienced neurologist who will confirm or refute the neurological symptoms.
Meniere's syndrome: treatment
Today, many reputable experts unanimously declare that it is impossible to completely get rid of Meniere's disease. However, it is possible to reduce the symptoms of the disease, improve the quality of life of the patient and avoid disability. Treatment begins with the appointment of an appropriate diet for the patient, this will facilitate the course of the disease and reduce the subsequent number of attacks.
To reduce the swelling of the inner ear, dehydration therapy, hormonal therapy, and vascular treatment are prescribed. With severe symptoms of the disease, an antibiotic is injected into the tympanic cavity, this method perfectly relieves dizziness and nausea, but it has a lot of side effects.
The treatment of Meniere's syndrome is a complex and lengthy process, but in most cases it brings with it the desired relief. Thousands of people live and work with this disease for many years, which is why it is worth remembering in any situation: Meniere's syndrome is not a sentence! This is another chance to prove to life that a person is able to overcome any difficulties and live happily ever after!