Often described as an unstable inner ear, with Meniere’s disease, fluid within the ear is not able to flow without restriction and can cause vertigo, dizziness, nausea, tinnitus, as well as fluctuating hearing loss. Meniere’s disease affects both men and women, and can typically start between the ages of 20 and 50. However, symptoms often develop slowly, so vigilance is needed. In most cases, only one ear is affected, but some patients are affected in both ears. Luckily, the majority of patients can control their disease with medical management and by protecting their inner ear from any unnecessary stress.
While there is no cure for this disorder, there are measures you can take to help lessen the severity of Meniere’s disease. Follow these helpful Meniere’s disease tips to help you gain some relief.
Limit Caffeine – While stopping caffeine completely may not be possible, you do want to limit the amount of caffeine you intake daily. Caffeine is a stimulant, so things such as coffee, chocolate, cola, and tea can stimulate the nerve endings in your ear.
Limit Salt Intake – We all know that too much salt is bad for us, but if you have Meniere’s disease reducing your intake of salt is a must. Ingesting to much salt can cause pressure that affects your hearing and balance nerve endings.
Reduce or stop smoking – Smoking tobacco not only causes issues with your respiratory system, but it also affects the blood flow. With the movement of blood restricted, it cannot flow to and from the blood vessels that nourish the nerves of the inner ear.
Be informed – It is vital that you know and understand your condition to the best of your ability. To help you learn more, collect as much information as you can. Being informed about your condition will only help you. Plus, it will also help you formulate questions to ask your doctor.
Talk to you doctor – Be sure to have open lines of communication with your doctor. A qualified ENT specialist can help you with treatment options, medication, and with anything else you may need along the way.