Before explaining what Meniere’s disease is and if Meniere’s disease is hereditary, it is important to understand how the ear is responsible for the sense of hearing. For the convenience of understanding, the ear is divided into 3 parts
1. Outer Ear – From The Ear Flap To The Auditory Canal
This part conducts sound to the eardrum. The outer ear is rich in sebaceous glands and hairy sweat glands which work to form ear wax.
2. Middle Ear – Auditory Canal to Stirrup
This portion is of the ear is an air-filled space. Here, the ear connects to the nasopharynx by means of a Eustachian Tube. This tube helps to maintainair pressuree within the ear. This part of the ear also contains the smallest bones in the body. These bones convey sound impulses from ear drum to inner ear.
3. Inner Ear – Stirrup to Cochlea Including the Eustachian Tube
The inner ear contains cochlea. Cochlea is surrounded by fluid. This portion of ear converts sound vibrations to nerve impulses.
All these specific functions of the ear allow a patient to hear effectively. Any breach in the integrity or continuity of the ear, due to any cause leads to signs and symptoms.
The ear is the center of balance of our body. This is the reason why any infections of the ear, nose and throat or any trauma to the ear or near the ear like a blow or a slap causes a person to lose balance or become dizzy. The function of maintaining air pressure also explains why certain people experience sickness in flights, cars or high altitudes.
Meniere’s disease is a chronic disorder of the inner ear characterized by recurrent and sudden attacks of vertigo or dizziness. Meniere’s disease is considered as a form of endolymphatic hydrops – an excessive accumulation of endolymph fluid.
The basic mechanism that works in the development of tinnitus is gross distension of lymphatics within the ear. The lymphatic system is responsible for drainage of microbes and toxins. Some causes for an accumulation of endolymph are:
Some environmental factors which trigger an attack of Meniere’s disease are regular exposure to noise pollution (occupational), stress, fatigue, emotional disturbances, and prolonged illnesses, changes in pressure like high altitudes, certain food and drugs and excess salt in the diet.
In some cases, attacks are recurrent. Recurrent attacks result in a progressive reduction in hearing, tinnitus becomes a usual feature and vertigo subsides. In late stages of the disease, there is vertigo with disturbed vision and balance; tinnitus becomes a strong feature along with hearing loss.
Disease presentation may however vary in different individuals. Duration, intensity and recurrence of attacks are often different even in the same individual. This unpredictability of attacks makes is relatively difficult to study it.
Meniere’s disease is known to occur due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Very few cases show a family history of Meniere’s. However, there has been no identification of any specific gene yet.
There are no specific medications for treating Meniere’s disease. Symptomatic treatment and surgery in complicated cases is generally used.
Certain researches have even suggested a reduction in intensity, duration and recurrence in symptoms of Meniere’s with the help of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy.
Essential oils help in soothing the nerves and in relieving symptoms. These are not a substitute for medications. Essential oils can be used either singly or in combination.
Medically Reviewed By
Dr. Himanshi is a Homoeopathic consultant and currently working as a lecturer in Post-graduate faculty of Homeopathy, Parul University, Vadodara. Completed BHMS and MD in Homeopathy in January 2018 and also has a clinical experience of about 6 years. Personal interests include reading, spending time with family and traveling.
Internal bleeding is a medical condition where blood escapes from damaged blood vessels and accumulates…
Serotonin, commonly referred to as the "feel-good" neurotransmitter, plays a critical role in regulating mood,…
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are two neurodevelopmental conditions that, while distinct,…
The year 2024 has seen a significant Listeria outbreak, raising alarms across several countries. Listeria…
Metabolic conditioning (MetCon) has gained significant attention in the fitness world, often hailed as a…
Cooking oils are a staple in every kitchen, playing a crucial role in the flavor,…