Menieres Disease

Symptoms of M?ni?re's disease

M?ni?re's disease symptoms come and go.

When you get symptoms, they start suddenly and can last anywhere between a few minutes and 24 hours. Some people have symptoms more often than others.

Symptoms include:

feeling like you or everything around you is spinning (vertigo)
losing your balance
ringing or buzzing sounds in one or both ears (tinnitus)
hearing loss
feeling pressure, discomfort or pain deep inside your ear
feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)

Over time, your hearing may gradually get worse and you may get constant tinnitus.

Having these symptoms does not mean you definitely have M?ni?re's disease.

Conditions that can have similar symptoms include:

When and where to get medical help

If you think you might have M?ni?re's disease, it's important to get your symptoms checked.

See a GP if:

you have symptoms of M?ni?re's disease

Call 999 if:

You feel like you or everything around you is spinning and:

your face droops on one side (the mouth or eye may have drooped)
you cannot lift up both arms and keep them there
you have difficulty speaking (speech may be slurred or garbled)
you have sudden problems with the vision in one eye
you feel very off-balance

These can be signs of a stroke, which is a medical emergency. The symptoms of a stroke usually come on suddenly.

Do not drive yourself to A&E.

The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.

What happens at your appointment

If you have symptoms of M?ni?re's disease, a GP will ask you about your symptoms, check inside your ears, and look at your head and neck.

They may also ask you to do some exercises, such as marching on the spot or standing with your heels together and your eyes closed.

If the GP thinks you have M?ni?re's disease, they'll refer you to a specialist for further tests, such as blood tests and an MRI scan.

Treatment for M?ni?re's disease

There's no cure for M?ni?re's disease, but your symptoms can be managed with treatment.

Treatment includes:

medicines to help symptoms such as vertigo, feeling sick (nausea) and being sick (vomiting)
hearing aids
help to manage your tinnitus, which can include different types of therapy
help to improve your balance (vestibular rehabilitation)

Rarely, you may be offered surgery on your inner ear if you're finding it difficult to manage your symptoms.

M?ni?re's disease can have an impact on your everyday life, which can affect your mental health.

Counselling and relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises, can help.

Things you can try to help with M?ni?re's disease

M?ni?re's disease symptoms can come on suddenly and without warning.

There are some lifestyle changes you can make that may help manage the symptoms.

Do

keep your medicines with you at all times
consider the risks and take care if doing things like swimming, climbing ladders or using dangerous machinery
drink lots of fluids
talk to a GP about trying a low-salt diet
try to avoid caffeine in food and drink, such as tea, coffee and chocolate

Don't

do not drive if you feel dizzy or symptoms of vertigo are coming on
do not drink alcohol
do not smoke

Important

You must tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if you have dizziness that comes on suddenly or happens often.

Dizziness or vertigo and driving (GOV.UK)

Find out more

Support for M?ni?re's disease (M?ni?re's & Vestibular UK)

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