Meniere's

An estimated 40,000 (1 in 600) Australians have Meniere’s, which is a condition in which excess fluid inm the inner ear upsets the ear’s balance and hearing mechanisms.

Symptoms include:
 Vertigo – dizziness with associated loss of balance, nausea, vomiting and diarrohea;
 Tinnitus – a distressing ringing, hissing or buzzing sound in the ear/s or head;
 Ear Pressure – a feeling of “fullness” in the ear associated with a build up of fluid in the inner ear;
 Muffled Hearing – a lost of low frequency hearing in one or both ears, making speech difficult to understand. At first hearing loss tends to fluctuate but eventually will affect all frequencies.

Stages:
1. Intermittent vertigo, often accompanied with severe vomiting. After an attach the ear returns to normal, making diagnosis difficult. Muffled hearing and tinnitus can also be experienced;
2. Vertigo continues, often preceded and accompanied by pressure in the ear/s. Episodes can last from hours up to days and tend to occur in clusters. Hearing fluctuates but doesn’t return to normal. Tinnitus increases and may become chronic;
3. There are fewer, less severe vertigo attacks. Balance is impaired resulting in some unsteadiness. Hearing loss can be severe. Tinnitus continues.

Treatments:
Although there is currently no cure for Meniere’s, some conservative treatments include:
a) Changes to diet – a low-salt diet (low in sodium) is recommended to reduce vertigo symptoms. Low sodium equates to less than 120mg per 100gr of food. Eat fresh foods and avoid processed foods. Reducing caffeine and alcohol intake may also help;
b) Stress can trigger attacks. Lifestyle changes to minimise stress is a key strategy;
c) Balance therapy – doing specially designed physical exercises can help retrain the body to balance effectively;
d) Have regular chiropractic sessions to ensure joints in your skull (yes, there are a few) are correctly aligned. Acupuncture and massage can also help.
e) If the above doesn’t assist, have your GP refer you to a Neurologist specialising in Hearing & Balance for detailed testing.

For more information visit: www.menieres.org.au & www.findlowsaltfood.info