Menieres disease

"Mnire's disease | NHS inform Home Illnesses and conditions Symptoms and self-help Tests and treatments Healthy living Care, support and rights Scotlands Service Directory 0 Home Illnesses and conditions Ears, nose and throat Menieres disease Menieres disease Mnires disease is a rare inner ear condition that can affect your balance and hearing. It cannot be cured, but treatments can usually help your symptoms. Mnires disease most commonly affects people aged 20 to 60. Its slightly more common in women than men. Symptoms of Mnires disease The symptoms and severity of Mnires disease vary widely from person to person. The main symptoms of Mnires disease are: vertigo  the feeling that you, or the environment around you, is moving or spinning tinnitus  hearing sounds from inside your body, rather than from an outside source hearing loss , with a particular difficulty hearing deep or low sounds a feeling of pressure or fullness deep inside the ear feeling or being sick Symptoms typically last around 2 to 3 hours. But it can take a day or two for the symptoms to disappear completely. These symptoms usually only affect one ear at first, but both ears may become affected over time. Other symptoms include: sensitivity to sound (hyperacusis) distorted sound When to get medical advice Speak to your GP practice if: You or your child: have any of the symptoms of Mnires disease Diagnosing Mnires disease Theres no single test for Mnires disease. It can be difficult to distinguish from other conditions with similar symptoms. Your GP will ask you to describe your symptoms to find out if theres a pattern. For Mnires disease to be diagnosed, youll have had: at least 2 episodes of vertigo lasting 20 minutes or more within a single Mnires disease attack tests that confirm that hearing loss is caused by damage to the sensitive hair cells inside the cochlea (the coiled tube in the inner ear) tinnitus or a feeling of pressure in your ear Your GP may also carry out a physical examination to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms. If needed, your GP can refer you to an ear nose and throat (ENT) specialist for further tests. Treatment for Mnires disease Mnires disease cannot be cured, but treatment can usually help your symptoms. Possible treatments include: medicines to treat the symptoms and prevent attacks changes to your eating habits, such as a low-salt diet treatment for tinnitus treatment for hearing loss balance training (vestibular rehabilitation) relaxation techniques surgery  only rarely, in more severe cases Your mental health Some people with Mnires disease also find that it affects their mental health. Speak to your GP practice if youre finding it difficult to cope with the effect Mnires disease is having on your life. There are also support groups that can help you. Safety If you have vertigo, there are some safety issues to consider. For example: you should tell your employer if your job involves operating machinery or climbing ladders you may have a higher chance of falling  read about preventing falls for advice on reducing your risk Driving and vertigo If you drive, you must tell the DVLA about your vertigo. Get more information on driving with vertigo on GOV.UK What causes Mnires disease? The exact cause of Mnires disease is unknown. Its thought to be caused by a problem with pressure deep inside the ear. Factors that can increase your risk of developing Mnires disease include: a family history of the condition a chemical imbalance in the fluid in your inner ear Source: ENT Scotland - Opens in new browser window Last updated: 05 March 2024 How can we improve this page? Help us improve NHS inform Thank You Your feedback has been received Dont include personal information e.g. name, location or any personal health conditions. Email Address e.g. you@example.com Message Maximum of 500 characters Send feedback Add this page to\n            Info For Me NHS inform About NHS inform Editorial policy Contact us Webchat Give feedback about NHS inform Info for Me tool Terms and conditions Privacy and cookies policy Freedom of information (FOI) Accessibility Other languages and formats  2023 NHS 24  v1.1.1.17852"