What You Need to Know About Managing Meniere’s Disease
- Connie Byers
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Living with Meniere’s disease can be a challenging and often scary experience, especially for those suffering from severe symptoms. However, there is hope. A growing body of evidence points to Upper Cervical Chiropractic care as a promising avenue for lasting relief. This specialized form of chiropractic treatment targets the upper neck’s delicate balance, offering a natural, drug-free approach to mitigating the often debilitating symptoms associated with Meniere’s disease. In this article, we’ll delve into the benefits of Upper Cervical care for Meniere’s disease and cover a few tips and tricks to help keep your symptoms at bay.
What is Meniere’s Disease? A Brief Review
Named after French doctor Prosper Ménière, Meniere’s disease is a chronic inner ear disorder that affects the inner ear, the body’s hub for balance and hearing. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) states that four primary symptoms characterize the condition:
Recurring episodes of vertigo
Vertigo is a disorienting sensation of moving or spinning while not in motion that starts and stops spontaneously. Episodes of vertigo can occur without warning and last several minutes to several hours. Vertigo brought on by Meniere’s disease can be severe enough to bring on what is known as “drop attacks” that cause the patient to lose balance and drop to the floor.
Hearing loss
Hearing loss is a common symptom of Meniere’s disease. Low-frequency hearing is often affected first. In the early stages, this symptom can fluctuate, meaning it may come and go with no warning. Over time, the hearing loss can become permanent..
Tinnitus
The tinnitus severity in Meniere's disease can vary from patient to patient. Still, it is characterized by the perception of a low-tone roaring or buzzing when no external sound is present. It can be intermittent or persistent, and may worsen before or during vertigo attacks.
Ear fullness
Many people with Meniere's disease describe a feeling of pressure or fullness, typically in one ear. This can be a prominent symptom, particularly before, during, or after an episode of vertigo.
These symptoms can be unpredictable, vary in intensity, and are often accompanied by other symptoms, including headaches, abdominal pain, and nausea. After an attack, you might also notice additional symptoms like losing balance, poor muscle coordination, and extreme fatigue. Depending on the severity of your condition, these symptoms could last from a few minutes to a few hours. They can also recur several times a week or stop briefly and return months or years later.
What Causes Meniere’s Disease?
While the exact cause of Meniere’s remains elusive, factors include genetics (about 10% of Meniere’s cases run in families), a constriction in blood vessels, viral infections, allergies, autoimmune disorders, head trauma, and environment.
Symptoms are believed to be caused by an abnormal buildup of fluid called endolymph, accumulating in the chambers of the inner ear called the labyrinth. The labyrinth has two sections: the bony labyrinth, responsible for hearing, and the membranous labyrinth, responsible for balance.
Disorders With Similar Characteristics of Meniere’s Disease
Several known disorders can mimic Meniere's disease symptoms, making a quick diagnosis challenging. These conditions include vestibular migraine, vestibular neuronitis, labyrinthitis, transient ischemic attack, superior semicircular canal dehiscence, perilymph fistula, and autoimmune inner ear disease.
Risk Factors for Meniere’s
Like other vestibular diseases, Meniere’s has a few common risk factors. For example, it is more common in adults over 40. Other factors include:
Having a family history of Meniere’s disease
Chronic allergies or infectious disease
A high salt content diet (mainly from cured and preserved food products)
Excessive caffeine or alcohol consumption
Hormonal imbalance or hormonal fluctuation
Sleep issues
Neck or head trauma
Autonomic nervous system malfunction
Managing Meniere’s Debilitating Symptoms
The symptoms of Meniere’s disease can have a debilitating effect on everyday life. However, there are steps patients with Meniere’s disease should take to help cope with Meniere’s Disease:
Kick nicotine and caffeine to the curb
These two stimulating substances can worsen vertigo, prolong hearing loss, and make tinnitus louder.
Maintain a low-sodium diet
Strictly speaking, salt gets a bad rap. With proper balance, it’s essential to body function, but too much salt can contribute to inflammation and fluid retention in the body, including the ears.
Stay hydrated
Drinking the correct amount of water to ensure proper hydration can help maintain balance in your body by eliminating excess salts and toxins through urination.
Avoid inflammatory foods
It is best to keep a mild diet as foods that are hard on the digestive system can cause irritation, and therefore, should be avoided.
Balance carbs and proteins
When carbohydrates break down, they form simple sugars that make your body release more insulin into your bloodstream. On the other hand, proteins release glucagon, which controls the insulin level in the body. Controlling your blood sugar and insulin can help you keep Meniere’s symptoms in check.
Avoid food additives
Additives such as aspartame or other sugar substitutes and MSG have been said to trigger the symptoms of Meniere’s disease. Rely on natural foods and avoid harmful food additives.
Manage your stress levels
Stress and anxiety can release certain hormones that can prompt Meniere’s disease symptoms. Learn to relieve stress through gentle exercises, breathing techniques, and meditation.
Seek Upper Cervical chiropractic care
A misalignment of the upper cervical spine, known as a subluxation, is believed to be another common cause for the onset of Meniere’s disease. An upper cervical chiropractor can correct this misalignment and relieve Meniere’s symptoms.
The Upper Cervical Connection
The upper cervical region of the spine, comprised of the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) vertebrae, has been shown to play a pivotal role in exacerbating conditions like Meniere’s disease. Understanding this connection can provide a new perspective on the disease and its treatment options.
The C1 and C2 vertebrae work together with the brain, brain stem, ears, and nervous system. However, the upper cervical spine is highly susceptible to misalignment due to its location and mobility. When a misalignment or subluxation happens in this region, the brainstem is placed under added pressure, resulting in a cascade of adverse effects. The brainstem is the communication highway of the body. Upper cervical subluxations can cause brain-body communication errors that can impact how fluid drains from the ears and cause the onset of vertigo.
Upper cervical chiropractic care focuses on correcting these misalignments through gentle, precise adjustments, thereby restoring optimal nervous system function and potentially alleviating Meniere’s symptoms like vertigo, balance issues, ear function, and tinnitus.
A Gentle, Non-Invasive Treatment for Mineire’s Disease
Upper cervical chiropractic care is known for its gentle, non-invasive techniques, making it an ideal option for patients seeking a drug-free, natural approach to managing Meniere’s disease. Furthermore, Upper cervical chiropractic care does more than simply deal with symptoms. The goal and focus of this particular niche of chiropractic care is to discover the underlying root of the condition and solve the problem there.
For those navigating the complexities of Meniere’s disease, upper cervical chiropractic care offers a beacon of hope. By addressing the underlying spinal misalignments that may contribute to the condition’s symptoms, this specialized treatment provides a path to improved health and symptom relief.
If you or a loved one is struggling with Meniere’s disease, consider exploring the benefits of upper cervical chiropractic care as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Contact Atlas Specific today by calling us at 970.259.6803, visiting our Durango office, or clicking the link below to schedule a free consultation. As your Durango chiropractor for upper cervical care, we look forward to being a part of your healing journey.
Notice of Disclaimer:
We are doctors of upper cervical chiropractic, but we are NOT necessarily YOUR doctors. All content and information on this website is for informational and educational purposes only, does not constitute medical advice, and reading or interacting with this site does not establish any form of patient-doctor relationship. Although we strive to provide accurate information, the information presented here is not intended as a substitute for any kind of professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this information. Always consult a professional in your particular area of need before making medical decisions.
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