Meniere’s disease is a chronic inner ear disorder that impacts hearing balance. It is one of the most common causes of dizziness and can also lead to ringing in the ears, called tinnitus, ear pressure, and trouble hearing.
The condition typically affects one ear, and symptoms can appear spontaneously and last anywhere from a few minutes to hours. It can affect anyone, but the 40-60 cohort seems to be the most Lilley demographic to get it, and no one really knows why.
Your hearing and balance organs are bathed in a fluid called endolymph. Meniere’s disease happens when an abnormal amount of fluid, potentially due to rupturing, messes with signals being sent to the brain. The result is vertigo, tinnitus, and ear pressure.
The symptoms can hit quickly and without warning. They generally start with increased pressure in the ear and tinnitus, followed by some fluctuating hearing loss and vertigo. They can be scary and difficult to handle, but the condition does seem to improve over time.
If you’ve been experiencing trouble hearing, ringing in the ears, dizziness, or pressure, you may want to head to a doctor for a check-up.
When the condition is left alone, it may result in permanent hearing loss.
After you’ve seen your doctor, some lifestyle tips that may aid in improvement include adopting a low-salt diet. There is also some evidence that reducing caffeine, chocolate, and alcohol may help lessen or eliminate symptoms.
It can be easy to ignore a little ringing or pressure in the ears or some dizziness. If it persists, or hits hard one day, call your doctor.