Meniere’s disease is a condition that causes vertigo, ringing in the ears, and hearing loss. The problem originates from the inner ear, and not the brain like what was previously thought. The medical community is still not entirely sure how this disease begins. However, there are many theories over the last several years.
According to theories, these are some of the likely causes of Meniere’s disease:
These are all considered as possible causes. On the other hand, two leading theories try to explain why Meniere’s disease produces the symptoms of a severe attack. The first theory: It states that pressure increases within the ear because of a massive buildup of fluid in the inner ear. The second theory: Potassium may be present in a part of the ear where it is not supposed to be. A rupture may cause this occurrence in a membrane that divides the perilymph from the other ear fluid, the endolymph.
Also, certain situations or events can trigger an attack of Meniere’s disease, such as:
Meniere’s disease is a chronic disorder of the inner ear. The Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium of the American Academy of Otolaryngology defined it as the idiopathic syndrome of endolymphatic hydrops. The definition may sound confusing to many people. It means Meniere’s disease creates a collection of symptoms that occurs repeatedly. As a result, it causes an abnormal buildup of fluid – known as endolymph – collecting in the inner ear.
Meniere’s disease can happen to people of any age. However, it is more common among those aging between 40 to 60 years old. It can be challenging to pinpoint precisely how many people have Meniere’s disease because there is no accepted method to determine this. Also, numerous people with this disease are not reporting their problems. There is an approximation given by the National Institute on Deafness. They said that around 615,000 individuals in the United States have this disease, and 45,000 new cases are diagnosed every year.
Here is a quick historical background about this subject. In 1861, a French physician, Dr. Prosper Meniere, had a theory. He stated that this disease could cause vertigo attacks (a fake spinning feeling), irregular hearing loss, and tinnitus (loud ringing in the ears). He also believed that these symptoms originate from the inner ear and not from the brain, which was the prevalent theory. Later on, more people in the medical community thought that Dr. Meniere's opinion was probably the correct one. Thus, it became more and more accepted. As a result, Meniere's disease started to become associated with this illness and inner ear balance problems.
Meniere’s disease usually begins with fluctuating hearing loss and may become worse, causing dizziness and worsens into vertigo episodes. Also, typical attacks have an aura (it is a specific set of visual warning signs).
If you can pay attention to these signs when they start, you can get to a comfortable and safe place to prepare and cope with the attack. Auras can give you a clue when an attack is about to happen.
Watch out for these classic Meniere’s disease symptoms:
This disease is still shrouded in mystery among the practitioners in the medical community. They do not know the exact cause of this illness. However, here are some theories on why it happens:
Even most experts cannot agree on exactly which approach is the most accurate, but there is one theory that at least most researchers and doctors agree upon. It states the attacks happen because of an increase of pressure caused by excessive deposit of endolymph in the inner ear or because of potassium crystals in the region of the ear where they should not exist. They also believe that this may occur due to a small rip or damage in the membrane that separates endolymph from another inner ear fluid known as the perilymph.
In many cases, people get Meniere’s disease when it becomes triggered by specific situations or events, such as:
If we only talk about what symptoms accompany this disease, it will not tell the complete story. It is because the various traits can change anytime. It can vary before, in between, and after the different attacks. Meniere’s disease has a late-stage and it contains a more intense set of symptoms.
Let’s start at the beginning. Meniere’s disease begins with irregular hearing loss, and then it can progress into vertigo attacks and dizziness. Incoming attacks may or may not have an aura (a warning stage). If you pay attention to these symptoms or warning signs, you may find a pattern to predict when an episode will happen. This would allow you to prepare yourself. Then, you can get to a safe, quiet, and comfortable place before an attack gets worse.
Here are some common signs to look before an attack of Meniere’s disease:
While an attack is happening in the early stages of Meniere’s disease, you may experience the following:
You will probably feel exhausted. Thus, you may want to sleep for a few hours. In between attacks, most individuals can be symptom-free. However, some may have to deal with the following symptoms after attacks:
In the last stage, a set of symptoms is present. You may experience hearing loss but very likely to fluctuate. In addition, at this stage, tinnitus and congestion in the ear are both intense and more regular. Instead of experiencing vertigo, the person may notice more visual problems and balance issues. Also, drop attacks may occur. It is when you suddenly fall, but you are still conscious. People who experience drop attacks report that they feel as if someone just pushed them from behind. All of these symptoms are likely to get more intense, especially when you are:
The collection of attacks caused by Meniere’s disease can last anywhere from 20 minutes to 24 hours. Also, it is possible for these series of attacks to happen repeatedly over a few weeks, months, or even a few years. This condition is just so unpredictable. People with Meniere’s disease are exasperated, angry, afraid, anxious, and depressed to deal with it. Therefore, there is no guaranteed way to manage it effectively because of its unpredictability and wide array of symptoms. As a result, even researchers and doctors become frustrated with this disease. However, do not despair, because there is hope. You have to look in the right places to find what you need.
There was a case study that involved a 55-year older adult diagnosed with Meniere’s disease. He experienced the following symptoms: episodic vertigo, constant dizziness, earache, ear noise, and occasional deafness. Patient tests revealed that he had a C1 (atlas) vertebral subluxation (misalignment or slight dislocation). He received upper cervical chiropractic care for two weeks. After that, the patient claimed to experience significant improvement and resolution of his Meniere’s disease symptoms.
This study clearly showed a close connection between the onset and progression of Meniere’s disease and an upper cervical spine or neck misalignment.
Upper cervical chiropractors use a non-invasive, natural, and highly precise technique. Thus, when a misalignment is corrected, it encourages the bones of the neck to move back into their rightful positions without excessive force or added injury. Once aligned, proper communication of the brain and body becomes restored, and the body heals. Finally, many patients can see significant improvements and pain relief from their Meniere’s disease symptoms.
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The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.
