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Meniere's illness, often called endolymphatic hydrops, describes a set of three of symptoms (dizziness, varying hearing loss, and ringing in the ears) that persist in spells (Meniere assaults), and at some point result in long-term hearing loss. These 3 signs take place in many various vestibular problems, so the term Meniere's condition is only utilized for those situations where a reason has not yet been determined which satisfy particular essential characteristics. The most essential attribute is that the afflicted ear loses hearing temporarily throughout the assaults, and over time improveds long-term hearing loss. People which never ever experience hearing loss do not have Meniere's condition.

A new theory by Carol Foster, M.D. of the University of Colorad, is that Meniere's Disease is caused by ischemia or lack of blood flow to inner ear tissue. Dr. Foster has proposed that increase fluid pressure within the cochlea (endolymphatic hydrops) causes a decrease in blood flow to cochlear and vestibular tissues. Her theory is compatible with the clinical presentation of Meniere's Disease. However, we do not know what causes the increase in fluid pressure within the cochlea (increased production of inner ear fluid, decreased reabsorption of the fluid, or a combination of both).

Medication(s) may be prescribed to reduce the severity of symptoms and possibly to decrease the frequency of Meniere's spells. Diuretics (water pills) may act on the inner ear to help remove excess fluid. Anti-vertigo medications (meclizine or Antivert® ) or tranquilizers (Valium® or Xanax®) can provide temporary relief but may be sedating or habit-forming. Steroids, such as prednisone, can help reduce the severity of acute attacks but have significant side effects if taken for prolonged lengths of time. Medications such as Glycerol USP, Diamox®, or Neptazane® are recommended by some physicians. Occasionally, vasodilators or vitamins are helpful, but their results are less predictable; they are rarely indicated.

For those people with persistent dizzy symptoms in whom medications have not been successful, or who have special situations (i.e. bus driver), there are several surgical options. Surgery of the endolymphatic sac can be very successful in patients who have active fluctuations of hearing. This suggests that the problem in the inner ear is reversible if the pressure problem can be reversed. Incidently, some patients have permanent damage to the inner ear from the pressure problem so that even if the pressure problem is reversed the inner ear will not function normally. This procedure is performed through an incision immediately behind the ear. This is an outpatient procedure.

Meniere’s disease is a chronic condition of the inner ear. People with Meniere’s disease experience episodes of spinning sensations, ringing in the ear, fullness inside the ear, fluctuating hearing and gradual hearing loss, according to the Washington University School of Medicine. Traditional medical approaches to treating symptoms are diuretics and a low-salt diet; however, many people do find this approach to be helpful, so they turn to vitamins, minerals and herbs for symptom relief. B Vitamins Although there is no cure for Ménière’s disease, the attacks of vertigo can be controlled in nearly all cases. What are the symptoms?

Attacks of dizziness may come on suddenly or after a short period of tinnitus or muffled hearing. Some people have single attacks of dizziness once in a while. Others may have many attacks close together over several days. Some people with Meniere's disease have "drop attacks" during which the dizziness is so bad they lose their balance and fall. People with Meniere's will have sudden dizzy spells after experiencing tinnitus or muffled hearing. Symptoms vary from person to person, and some will experience many attacks over a period of several days, and others will have one attack every once in awhile. Potential causes or triggers

Attacks of vertigo can be incapacitating and severe. Episodes of vertigo can last for hours, and may be accompanied by an increase in the loudness of tinnitus and a greater sense of hearing loss. Vertigo can cause nausea, vomiting and occasionally “drop attacks” which is a sudden onset of severe vertigo so severe that it causes the patient to fall. Drop attacks are a medical emergency and must be treated immediately to prevent injury to the patient and/or others. The "glycerol test" is an older diagnostic test that depends on detecting improvement of hearing, 4 hoursafter oral administration of glycerol (Basel and Lutkenhoner, 2012). This test is not commonly used.

Conversely, destructive surgeries are irreversible and involve removing entire functionality of most, if not all, of the affected ear. 44 The inner ear itself can be surgically removed via labyrinthectomy although hearing is always completely lost in the affected ear with this operation. 5 Alternatively, a chemical labyrinthectomy, in which a drug (such as gentamicin ) that "kills" the vestibular apparatus is injected into the middle ear can accomplish the same results while retaining hearing. 46 Vertigo (and the associated nausea and vomiting) typically accompany the recovery from destructive surgeries as the brain learns to compensate. 46 Physiotherapy edit.

The term Meniere's disease is in fact something of a misnomer because Meniere's might in fact describe a syndrome, or a collection of signs often epitomized by dizziness, or intense disequilibrium, tinnitus, (buzzing in the ears), and some degree of hearing loss. When the signs can't be traced to a recognizable cause, the disease is referred to as idiopathic, and a lot more appropriately referred to as Meniere's illness. Most, if not all, ENTs concur that the therapy of Ménière's disease starts with the Hydrops Diet regimen and treatments to relieve or stop signs, mentioned Dr. Hoffer.