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Ménière’s disease, or MD, is an inner ear condition which affects your hearing and balance. The French physician Prosper Ménière first published an article on this syndrome in 1861. MD affects different people differently and can incur mild inconvenience or have a chronic, debilitating impact on your quality of life. This is not a condition that can be self-diagnosed. It is important to consult a qualified medical practitioner who will be able to refer to the appropriate specialist.

Possible symptoms

MD is characterised by vertigo, deafness and tinnitus. These are symptoms that present themselves in other diseases and conditions, hence the need to remain calm and consult your doctor.

MD is a long-term condition which initially affects one ear and may then progress to both ears. It is mainly diagnosed in white men and women of all ages and occurs between one out of 2,000 and one out of 20,000 people.

At present, there is no known cause for MD. There are however a number of factors that have been associated with its progression such as viral infections, susceptibility to migraines, metabolic disturbances and increased pressure of the inner ear fluid.

Treatment

Treating MD involves reducing the symptoms and will of course vary depending on the specific, individual needs of the person diagnosed.

Certain drugs like betahistine are administered to control and reduce the vertigo and nausea during attacks.

There are also some vestibular rehabilitation exercises that may help to deal with the vertigo. These are done strictly with the help of a physiotherapist.

A low-salt diet also helps to reduce the severity of the vertigo.

Tinnitus is treated with white noise generators, while hearing loss is improved with hearing aids. Surgery is another drastic, often last resort option.

Help yourself

Support and information networks such as the Ménière’s Society, which was founded in 1984, can be contacted for more information. There is also a book that was published in 1994 which can be very helpful to those with the condition and their caregivers.

Tags: disease