All about… Ménière’s disease

Naomi Dainty

A woman leaning on a wall, holding her head

Affecting two in every 1,000 people, Ménière’s disease is a rare condition that is caused by a disorder in the inner ear. It usually only impacts one ear at a time but can lead to dizzy spells and hearing loss.

What causes Ménière’s disease?

The condition arises when changes in pressure affect the fluid in our inner ears. At this stage, scientists have not found a direct cause for the disease, but some research indicates that the following could make it worse:

Head injuries
Infections
Allergies
Stress
Medication side effects
Alcohol use
Smoking

What are the symptoms of Ménière’s disease?

Ménière’s disease presents as ‘attacks’, which may last from 20 minutes to a full day. Sufferers may notice:

Vertigo – a spinning sensation that makes sufferers feel dizzy.
Fullness – the ear may feel ‘full’, which is often accompanied with nausea.
Tinnitus – this is a prolonged sensation of noise in the ears.
Loss of balance – the fluid in our ears is responsible for our balance (the vestibular system). A change in fluid volumes may cause sufferers to feel uneasy.
Hearing loss – repeated attacks can cause long-term hearing loss.
Nystagmus – the eyes bounce around trying to focus
Absences – similar to those experienced by people who have Epilepsy

Who is most at risk?

While Ménière’s disease can present at any age, it’s most common between the ages of 40 and 60. Up to 10 per cent of sufferers may have family history.

Can Ménière’s disease be treated? While there is no specific cure for Ménière’s disease, the symptoms can be controlled. Doctors recommend a low sodium (salt) diet and may also prescribe diuretics. These help patients go to the toilet more often, which can reduce fluid levels in the ear. For more extreme cases, such as hearing loss, steroids may be prescribed. Doctors are currently running clinical trials on a new steroid which can be injected directly into the eardrum. Finally, changes to your lifestyle may help control the symptoms, such as a healthy diet and reduced alcohol consumption/smoking.

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