How to Cope With Menieres Disease

Dizziness, ringing, pain or pressure in the ears, and sporadic hearing loss -- all are symptoms of Meniere's disease. Researchers hypothesize that Meniere's disease results from some imbalance in the fluids of the inner ear. Scientists haven't pinpointed its cause, and no cure exists. Yet, you can cope with Meniere's disease in several ways.

Instructions

• 1

  See a doctor. Meniere's is not fatal, nor is it contagious. Unfortunately, it is chronic, meaning it is repetitive and may last for years. Meniere's typically only affects one ear; less than a third of patients have an attack in both ears. Doctors generally diagnose the condition by asking questions about symptoms, then ruling out other possible causes. Symptoms come on abruptly and may disappear quickly. They may return as rarely as once a year, or as often as daily. Each attack may bring one or a variety of distressing symptoms from ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and dizziness (vertigo) to hearing loss and pain. An attack may last from 20 minutes up to several hours. Rarely, surgery may be the solution. More often, your doctor will prescribe medicines to help alleviate dizziness and nausea.

• 2

  Limit salt intake. Often, a doctor will recommend a change of diet. Salt is a big player in affecting the fluid levels in your ears by causing water retention. Limiting salt intake, therefore, is a positive step. This will affect the amount of fluid in the ear canal.

• 3

  Ask your doctor about a diuretic. A pill or natural diuretic may also be prescribed by your doctor to limit fluid retention. Eating more fruits and vegetables can cause you to urinate more frequently and reduce retention as well. Drinking eight glasses of water a day will act similarly. Also, ask your doctor about dandelion, ginger, and juniper's diuretic effects.

• 4

  Limit caffeine and alcohol. These also affect retention of fluids in your body. The National Institutes of Health recommend eliminating them.

• 5

  Stop smoking or using tobacco. The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends this as an important lifestyle change to help mitigate Meniere's disease symptoms.

• 6

  Reduce stress. It is thought that stress brings on more frequent attacks, so reducing stress is an important way of coping with Meniere's disease. Try meditation, yoga, and exercise. Avoid stressful working and home conditions as much as possible.

• 7

  During an attack, be still. Lie on a flat, nonmoving surface. Don't close your eyes. Stare at a fixed object. To avoid vomiting, limit what you eat and drink. When the attack subsides, get up slowly. If vomiting continues for more than 24 hours, call your doctor.