Symptoms of Ménière's Disease
The symptoms of Ménière's Disease are dizziness or a "spinning" sensation (rotational vertigo) associated with hearing loss, fullness or pressure in the ear, and roaring or ringing in the ear
(tinnitus). Nausea and vomiting often accompany severe attacks of vertigo. Some sufferers also experience headaches as part of their symptoms.
Vertigo attacks often occur with little or no warning, and can vary in intensity, frequency and duration. An attack can last from 20 minutes to a day or more, and it often takes one to three days to recover from the attack.
In the early stages of the disease, symptoms tend to fluctuate with symptom-free periods between attacks. In its late stages, however, patients generally experience more chronic symptoms. Some individuals progress rapidly through the stages of the disease, while others have "early stage" symptoms throughout the duration of the disorder.
About 80% of patients with Ménière's Disease experience the problem in only one ear (unilateral), while 20% of patients have the disease in both ears (bilateral).
What Causes Ménière's Disease?
The cause of Ménière's Disease is nearly always idiopathic, meaning it is unknown. Ménière's Disease most often begins between the ages of 30 and 50, but it can occur at any age and affects both genders and all ethnicities.
Research suggests that the primary problem is in the endolymphatic sac, an organ in the inner ear, which maintains the level of fluid (endolymph) in the hearing and balance canals of the inner ear. It is possible, but unproven, that a viral infection of the sac may trigger the onset of Ménière's Disease.
Recently, it was discovered that the endolymphatic sac contains a substance that stimulates the kidneys to get rid of water and sodium. Although the nature of this substance and how it is regulated are still unknown, it is tempting to speculate that the endolymphatic sac is involved in the body's system to regulate sodium concentration. If this were true, it would explain why a low-sodium diet helps some people with Ménière's Disease.
Other factors that may contribute to the onset of the disease include stress, a high-sodium diet, and problems with the body's endocrine system.
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