Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ORG
Mnires Disease
By P.J. Haybach, MS, RN, and the Vestibular Disorders Association
In 1861 the French physician Prosper from one country to the next. The
Mnire theorized that attacks of vertigo, National Institutes of Health estimates
ringing in the ear (tinnitus) and hearing that about 615,000 people in the U.S.
loss came from the inner ear rather than have Mnires disease and that 45,500
from the brain, as was generally believed new cases re-diagnosed each year.2
at the time. Once this idea was accepted,
the name of Dr. Prosper Mnire began Causes
its long association with this inner ear The exact cause and reason why
disease and with inner ear balance Mnires disease starts is not yet known.
disorders in general. Many theories have been proposed over
the years. They include: circulation
What is Mnires disease? problems, viral infection, allergies, an
Mnires disease is a chronic, incurable autoimmune reaction, migraine, and the
vestibular (inner ear) disorder defined in possibility of a genetic connection.
1995 by the Committee on Hearing and
Equilibrium of the American Academy of Experts arent sure what generates the
OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery symptoms of an acute attack of
as the idiopathic syndrome of Mnires disease. The leading theory is
endolymphatic hydrops.1 In plain that they result from increased pressure
language, this means that Mnires of an abnormally large amount of
disease, a form of endolymphatic endolymph in the inner ear and/or from
hydrops, produces a recurring set of the presence of potassium in an area of
symptoms as a result of abnormally large the inner ear where it doesnt belong.
amounts of a fluid called endolymph These conditions may be due to breaks
collecting in the inner ear. in the membrane separating endolymph
from the other inner ear fluid, perilymph.
Mnires disease can develop at any age, Some people with Mnires disease find
but it is more likely to happen to adults that certain events and situations, some-
between 40 and 60 years of age. The times called triggers, can set off attacks.
exact number of people with Mnires These triggers include stress, overwork,
disease is difficult to measure accurately fatigue, emotional distress, additional
because no official reporting system illnesses, pressure changes, certain
exists. Numbers used by researchers foods, and too much salt in the diet.
differ from one report to the next and
Vestibular Disorders Association www.vestibular.org Page 1 of 6
Progression of symptoms Following the attack, a period of extreme
Common symptoms of a Mnires fatigue or exhaustion often occurs,
disease attack do not reflect the entire prompting the need for hours of sleep.
picture of the disorder, because
symptoms vary before, during, between, The periods between attacks are
and after attacks, and also during the symptom free for some people and
late-stage of Mnires disease. symptomatic for others. Many symptoms
have been reported after and between
Oncoming attacks are often preceded by attacks:
an aura, or the specific set of warning anger, anxiety, fear, worry
symptoms, listed below. Paying attention appetite change
to these warning symptoms can allow a clumsiness
person to move to a safe or more concentration difficulty,
comfortable situation before an attack. distractibility, tendency to grope for
balance disturbance words
dizziness, lightheadedness diarrhea
headache, increased ear pressure fatigue, malaise, sleepiness
hearing loss or tinnitus increase headache, heavy head sensation
sound sensitivity lightheadedness (faintness)
vague feeling of uneasiness loss of self-confidence and self-
reliance
During an attack of early-stage Mnires nausea, queasiness, motion sickness
disease, symptoms include: neck ache or stiff neck
spontaneous, violent vertigo palpitations or rapid pulse, cold
fluctuating hearing loss sweat
ear fullness (aural fullness) and/or slurred speech
tinnitus sound distortion and sensitivity
unsteadiness (sudden falls,
In addition to the above main symptoms, staggering or stumbling, difficulty
attacks can also include: turning or walking in poorly lit areas,
anxiety, fear tendency to look down or to grope
diarrhea for stable handholds)
blurry vision or eye jerking vision difficulties (problems with
nausea and vomiting blurring, bouncing, depth perception,
cold sweat, palpitations or rapid glare intensification, focusing,
pulse watching movement; difficulty
trembling looking through lenses such as
binoculars or cameras)
vomiting
PAYMENT INFORMATION
If you prefer, you can make your purchases online at http://www.vestibular.org.
Check or money order in US funds, payable to VEDA (enclosed)
MAILING INFORMATION
Name ____________________________________________________________________________