Meniere's Disease
Meniere's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes severe spells of vertigo, making you feel like you're spinning. You can also have hearing loss, ringing (tinnitus, pronounced either TINN-itus or tinn-UH-tus)) or a feeling of fullness in your ear. (It usually affects just one ear). Doctors don't fully understand Meniere's Disease but suspect that its caused by a combination of how fluid drains (or does not drain) from your ear, allergies, viruses and genes.
There is no known cure for Meniere's Disease, but vertigo is treatable.
Recently Answered
- Q What is Meniere's disease?
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Meniere's syndrome, also called idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops, or Meniere's disease, is a disorder of the inner ear. Although the cause is unknown, Meniere's syndrome is thought to result from an abnormality in the inner ear fluids. About 100,000... Full Answer
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- Q What causes Meniere's disease?
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Meniere's disease is caused by a change in inner ear fluid. This happens when a sac that holds one of the inner ear fluids (called endolymph) swells or breaks, letting the endolymph escape into another fluid, the perilymph. Since this inner ear fluid... Full Answer
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- Q What should I avoid if I have Meniere's disease?
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You may need to control your stress and salt intake, and cut out tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, and MSG, all of which can aggravate the inner ear problems of Meniere's disease. If you're suffering from one of the bouts of vertigo or dizziness typical of... Full Answer
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- Q How can Meniere's disease affect my quality of life?
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Meniere's disease can cause symptoms that can strike without warning. You may suddenly feel dizzy and nauseated and have to lie down for hours, missing out on your regular activities. You may hear noises (tinnitus) in the affected ear or ears that keep... Full Answer
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- Q Does Meniere's disease run in families?
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Genes may be a factor in determining who gets Meniere's disease. However, contributing factors may also range from ear infections to tobacco use. No one knows for sure what causes this inner ear disorder. Full Answer
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- Q Can Meniere's disease be prevented?
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Nobody knows what causes Meniere's disease or how to prevent it. However, treating ear infections and similar problems quickly may help. Some possible risk factors, such as head injuries, can be more easily avoided than others, such as genetics. Full Answer
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- Q Is Meniere's disease life-threatening?
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Meniere's disease is not life-threatening by itself, but it can put you in life-threatening situations, due to the sudden bouts of vertigo and dizziness that mark the disease. You may fall down while walking or wreck while driving a vehicle. In fact, it... Full Answer
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- Q Is Meniere's disease contagious?
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Meniere's disease is not considered contagious. However, infections, such as ear infections, may play a role in the development of this inner ear syndrome, which is marked by hearing loss and bouts of vertigo and dizziness. However, nobody knows for sure... Full Answer
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- Q Does Meniere's disease affect children differently than adults?
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People aged 40 to 60 are most likely to acquire Meniere's disease, an inner ear disease that can cause dizziness, nausea, and hearing loss. Nobody knows exactly what causes Meniere's disease, but several of the risk factors are most common in adults,... Full Answer
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- Q How common is Meniere's disease?
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About 615,000 people in the United States have Meniere's disease. There are about 45,500 new cases found each year. People aged 40 to 60 are most likely to develop the disorder. Full Answer
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