Dizziness and Meniere's Disease
What is
Dizziness?
Dizziness is a sensation of lightheadedness, unsteadiness, or vertigo, often accompanied by feelings of spinning, floating, or tilting. It can result from various causes, including inner ear problems, vestibular disorders, neurological issues, low blood pressure, dehydration, medication side effects, or anxiety. Dizziness can significantly impact balance and coordination, making it difficult to stand, walk, or perform daily activities. Identifying the underlying cause of dizziness is essential to determine appropriate treatment and management strategies.
What Causes Dizziness?
Recent statistics show that more than 90 million Americans will experience dizziness at some time during their lives.
Multiple factors may cause dizziness, and it is important for your doctor to differentiate between cardiac issues, blood pressure problems, neurological conditions, medication-related issues, or ear problems. Often, the cause can be multifactorial.
Your doctor or otologist can determine which system is affected and the cause of your dizzy sensation. After a thorough exam and diagnostic test, the root causes of this disabling and difficult-to-diagnose syndrome can be found.
Do you feel a spinning sensation or lightheadedness?
A spinning sensation is usually associated with an inner ear problem whereas a lightheaded feeling may be related to a circulation or cardiac-related issue. Depending on the cause, various therapies and techniques can help return patients’ lives to normal.
Two main sensations need to be evaluated once an ear problem is suspected and all other causes of dizziness have been ruled out:
- Vertigo: The illusion that either you or the environment around you is spinning, rotating, rolling, rocking, or whirling. In some cases, people experience the sensation of tilting.
- Disequilibrium: The sensation of being unsteady or in a state of imbalance, which occurs only when people are standing or walking.
Diagnosing Dizziness, Vertigo, and Imbalance in Patients
The Otologist’s role is to determine if an inner ear problem is the contributing source to your dizziness. This can be done by performing a thorough history and neuro-otologic physical exam, but several diagnostic tests may be needed as well:
- VNG (caloric testing)
- Audiogram Computerized Dynamic Posturography
- ECOG
- ABR
- VEMP
- MRI of the Brain and Internal Auditory Canals
- CT scan of the temporal bone
- Blood tests
What is Meniere’s disease?
Meniere’s disease is an ear condition that can cause significant symptoms, including hearing loss and vertigo. It is relatively common in an ear specialist’s practice.
How does Meniere’s disease develop?
Meniere’s disease is believed to result from fluid dysfunction in the inner ear, which is located inside the skull. Although the inner ear is covered in thick bone, its interior is hollow and filled with fluid. Individuals with Meniere’s disease experience an excessive buildup of this fluid. When the fluid pressure becomes too high, it triggers severe episodes of dizziness, ringing in the ears, and sometimes even hearing loss. As the pressure decreases, the symptoms of Meniere’s disease typically subside.
How is Meniere’s disease diagnosed?
Most of the time, Meniere’s disease is diagnosed through a conversation and examination with the otologist. In some cases, additional tests may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis.
Is there a cure for Meniere’s Disease?
While Meniere’s disease cannot be cured, it can be managed and suppressed with the help of an otologist. The good news is that doctors, surgeons, and researchers have studied Meniere’s disease for over 100 years, leading to the development of many different therapies. Since every case of Meniere’s disease is unique, it is important for your otologist to fully evaluate you and determine which treatment will work best for you.
What are the specific causative agents for Meniere’s Disease?
Episodes of Meniere’s disease can be triggered by factors such as a high-salt diet, caffeine, sodas, alcohol, specific foods, allergies, infections, and even stress. This is why simple adjustments to the patient’s lifestyle and daily habits are typically the initial approach to managing Meniere’s disease effectively.
What is the natural progression of Meniere’s disease?
Meniere’s disease is progressive and can lead to profound hearing loss in the affected ear. Additionally, 15% of patients may develop Meniere’s disease in the opposite ear. Therefore, it is important to consult an otologist for proper diagnosis, treatment, and symptom management before the condition becomes too severe and disrupts your daily life. With proper treatment, your symptoms can be well-controlled, allowing you to return to your normal activities.
What are the medical treatments for Meniere’s Disease?
Conservative treatments can be utilized, including:
- Medications for dizziness (i.e., Dramamine, Meclizine)
- Nausea medications (i.e., Compazine, Zofran)
- Other medications – your otologist can prescribe more advanced medications, such as diuretics
- Physical exercise to reduce stress
- Vestibular rehabilitation therapy
- Low salt diet
- Avoiding caffeine
- Allergy desensitization therapy
- Corticosteroid treatment
What are the procedures or surgeries that can be done for Meniere’s Disease?
When lifestyle changes, diet, and medication fail to control symptoms, your otologist may choose one of several options as the next step in treatment. These include:
- – Intratympanic corticosteroid injections
- – MicroWick Procedure
- – Intra-tympanic injection
- – Endolymphatic sac decompression
- – Labyrinthectomy
- – Vestibular Neurectomy
It is important to talk to your otologist in detail before choosing any treatment. Based on your history, symptoms, level of hearing loss, degree of incapacity, and overall health status, your otologist will recommend the treatment with the least risk and the most benefit for you.
Still have questions regarding the condition?
While the information in this website may be helpful, it will never fully relate ear treatment to you. If you are facing any ear problem, please call our office and one of our representatives will talk to you.
CONTACT USTESTIMONIALS
What are patient say about us
Thanks to the expert care and skillful ear surgery I received, my life has been transformed. I can hear clearly again, and I’m forever grateful for the life-changing experience provided by the talented team
“Dr. Nazarian, who gave me back the wonderful gift of hearing!”
“Since the very first time of seeing Dr. Nazarian, I feel that I have been in the best of care- and from the first day and through the my surgery, I have felt that Dr. Nazarian is a very compassionate and caring doctor- more than I have ever seen. I feel very fortunate to have been referred to Dr. Nazarian. He is the best!”