Meniere's Disease

People that suffer from Meniere's Disease, an inner ear disorder, experience periods of vertigo, hearing fluctuation, and tinnitus or ringing in the ears. Sufferers experience different levels of the symptoms – they can be mild and can be ignored, but they can also be severe and disabling.

Why does Meniere's Disease take place?

The hearing and balance structures of the inner ear is fluid-filled, and they function independent of the body's overall fluid or blood system of the body. In normal circumstances, the fluid contains specific concentrations of potassium, sodium, chloride, and other electrolytes. The fluid is maintained at a constant volume, and it bathes the inner ear's sensory cells, allowing these cells to function normally.

However, this independent control may be lost when the inner ear structures get injured. This then causes in the fluctuation of pressure of the fluid in the inner ear, which further results in nausea, vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing fluctuation.

When we speak of the condition, the first thing that usually comes up is vertigo. Often described as if the room is spinning, vertigo attacks may cause you to involuntarily fall to the ground, and you may be left feeling exhausted after an attack. Thus, this spinning feeling can impede with our activities or tasks. The same is true for the other symptoms like tinnitus and hearing fluctuation.

Futhermore, the severity of the disorder's symptoms can be affected by certain factors just like stress, smoking, and excessive intake of caffeine and salt.

The treatments being used for the condition include taking medications like Centrax, Valium, Robinal, and Antivert, which tell the brain not to ignore the abnormal impulses coming from the ear. Alternative treatments like homeopathic remedies are also being used. These remedies are composed of a remedy prepared to focus on the symptoms of vertigo, and a remedy that helps relieve the tinitus symptoms experienced by the sufferers.

Furthermore, a Meniere's Disease sufferer should follow a diet that would help stabilize the fluid levels of the body:

• Avoid the consumption of foods and fluids that have high salt or sugar contents.

• Increase your intake of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. On the other hand, decrease your intake of frozen, canned, or processed foods.

• Be sure to drink adequate amounts of fluid daily. Have water, milk, and low-sugar fruit juices as sources.

• On the other hand, avoid fluids and foods that contain caffeine such as tea, coffee, and chocolate.