Meniere’s Disease
Joshua Weaver
Oscar Rattenborg
Anatomy and Physiology I
April 21, 2015
The actual name for Meniere’s disease was named after Prosper Meniere, a
French physician who was the first to characterize it in 1861. This disease, or syndrome,
has symptoms particularly occurring within the inner ear, mostly signs of vertigo. These
symptoms often come in “attacks” and are usually unpredictable in the timing of when
they will arise again. Individuals that are aging into their forties and fifties are more
likely to obtain the symptoms of this disease. Although Meniere’s disease is not exactly
life threatening, it certainly is life changing. It will definitely offer the opportunity to
overcome difficult obstacles, because a lifestyle with a sickness like this one should not
be taken lightly.
The actual cause of Meniere’s disease is still debatable. Although many are not
sure as to how it comes about, some have theories of what brings it about. The final
product of whatever causes it is an abnormal volume of fluid in the inner ear. For the
inner ear to work the way it was intended, the fluid needs to keep a proper balance.
Certain experts believe there are many factors that contribute to this imbalance. Certain
factors include allergies, migraines, viral infection, improper fluid drainage,
dysfunctional immune response, etc. Another way for someone to gain this disease is
mere genetics. If someone in the family were to have Meniere’s disease, the subject
would be at a much higher percentage of developing the disease themselves.
There are no physical signs of Meniere’s disease, but there are many symptoms.
The whole cycle begins with simply a slight amount of pressure or fullness felt within the
inner ear. But the most obvious symptom is constant episodes of vertigo. To simply
explain vertigo, it is the feeling one would get if they were to spin around really fast and
suddenly stop spinning while the subject would still feel as if the room was spinning.
When vertigo strikes a victim with Meniere’s disease, it is usually not a normal schedule.
It will hit without any warning and last around twenty minutes. Sometimes, when
conditions worsen, such as high stress levels are induced into the equation, episodes can
last up to two hours or even a full twenty-four hour period. When the symptoms begin to
grow too great, the subject might also experience nausea, vomiting, cold sweat, or an
over all weakness. Hearing loss is also a common symptom. It will usually fluctuate
during an attack and will sometimes be accompanied by difficulty with speech and
tinnitus. Tinnitus is the term used for a ringing or hissing sound that people claim to hear.
Migraines and fainting, although happen on rarer occasion than other symptoms, happen
on occasion. The overall effect of Meniere’s disease is a complete disequilibrium of the
fluid in the inner ear.
The whole idea to use any imaging studies is to differentiate any pathologic
conditions remotely close to those of Meniere’s disease. There have been findings of CT
and MR pathologic conditions similar in comparison to other symptoms not related to
Meniere’s disease such as sensorineural hearing loss, inner ear anomalies, and
osteoclerosis. Experiencing vertigo also does not mean that the subject has Meniere’s
disease. Vertigo can occur through labyrinthitis, brain metastasis, and endolymphatic sac
tumors.
There comes a certain point when the disease goes from bad to worse, and it
becomes time to seek medical attention. Attacks lasting more than three hours will
require such attention. Also if one were to suffer from hearing loss longer than
Twenty-four hours, it is potentially a more serious problem. When symptoms become
more severe, or there is even passing out, it’s time to see an expert. After seeing a doctor,
there are multiple different treatments for Meniere’s disease. There are different
medications a doctor can prescribe to his patient such as motion sickness or anti-nausea
medications. For long-term effects, a patient can be prescribed for medication that
reduces fluid retention in order to keep equilibrium. Medications like Gentamicin or
certain steroids can be injected directly into the middle ear which is then absorbed by the
inner ear. This will reduce the intensity of the sessions of vertigo.
Other than medications, therapies are also an affective solution. Rehabilitation
therapy is an excellent way for dealing with the symptoms. The subject would go through
activities and exercises specific to Meniere’s disease both at the therapy sessions and at
home. Something as simple as a hearing aid can be helpful. If the subject suffers from
chronic hearing loss, a hearing aid will be most suitable, but this is not always the case.
When medication doesn’t seem to be enough, a patient will decide to go with the
surgery option. A labyrinthectomy is one of the procedures which involve removing the
balance part of the ear. This is mainly a last resort and preformed when the subjects
hearing in that ear is nearly or completely gone. A less serious surgery would be the
endolymphatic sac procedure. An operation as this one is either decreasing fluid
production or increasing fluid absorption in the inner ear which will most definitely help
with the vertigo. One more option is available involving the vestibular nerve. The
vestibular nerve is connects all signals going from the balance and movement sensors
straight to the brain. The operation is to cut the nerve which will hopefully cease any
symptoms of vertigo all the while protecting the hearing in that ear.
A subject diagnosed with Meniere’s disease usually runs a specific course through
their lifetime. Whether it is atypical (having three of the four symptoms) or classic
Meniere’s disease (having four of the four symptoms), it usually runs a familiar pattern. It
is a progressive disease. The symptoms will eventually worsen over time sometimes at
different paces depending on the subject. At some point, the patient will go through a
remission in which they will experience none of the symptoms for a certain amount of
time either lasting a few days or a few years. But nearing the end, in the cases of bilateral
(both ears) and unilateral (one ear), the victim will reach burnout. This is when the
affected ears will finally have no more vestibular function. Any attack of vertigo will
usually cease, but occasional dizziness will often occur. On the other hand, not all experts
agree that burnout will actually happen.
Meniere’s disease is a serious condition that should never be taken for granted by
family member of the patient. One can fight with many procedures and therapy sessions,
but it is a syndrome with a goal, which is to destroy its victim’s hearing. Even when
hearing is gone, tinnitus and the sensation of fullness may still in fact remain. Any person
diagnosed with this disease should be given all the help they can get in order to fight it
off for as many years as possible. It is a relentless disease, but not invincible. Meniere’s
disease can be manageable for a lifetime through modern medicine and the right medical
and environmental choices.
Sources
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"Read What Your Physician Is Reading on Medscape." EMedicineHealth. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013.
"Meniere's Disease Information Center -- Prognosis of Meniere's
Disease." Meniere's Disease Information Center -- Prognosis of Meniere's Disease. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013.