TriVita Topic On Meniere’s Disease
January 2, 2009 by admin
Filed under Menieres Disease
Summary of Topic: Meniere’s Disease
By Dr. Brazos Minshew
Meniere’s disease is a disorder of the labyrinth in the inner ear. The labyrinth is a system of cavities and canals in the inner ear that affects hearing, balance, and eye movement.
© 2008 Nucleus Medical Art, Inc
Causes
An increase in the volume or pressure of fluid in the labyrinth can result in Meniere’s disease. The cause of these fluid changes is unknown. Possible causes may include:
* Part of the labyrinth ruptures, allowing fluid in different compartments to mix
* Scar tissue causes a blockage in the labyrinth
* Inner ear injury due to:
- Viral infection
- Syphilis, a sexually-transmitted disease
- Autoimmune disorders
- Blood vessel problems
- High cholesterol or other fats in the blood
- Hormonal disorders
- Medications, such as antibiotics and chemotherapy agents.
Symptoms
The intensity of symptoms can vary from one person to another. Symptoms usually come on suddenly. They typically involve only one ear, but may involve both. Symptoms may include:
*Episodes of vertigo (spinning sensation), often accompanied by:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sweating
- Paleness of the skin
- Weakness or falling
- In some cases, headache or diarrhea
* Hearing loss may worsen during attacks of vertigo
* Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
* Feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear
* Poor sense of balance
* A tendency for symptoms to worsen with movement.
Prevention
There are no specific guidelines for preventing Meniere’s disease. However, to help reduce your risk, avoid the following risk factors:
- High-salt diet
- High-sugar diet
- Excess noise
- Excess alcohol
- Stress
- Smoking
- Use of drugs that can be toxic to the ear such aminoglycosides, aspirin, and quinine.
Source: TriVita Article Meniere’s Disease December 2008.
Your World is Spinning! It Could Be Vertigo
by Dr. Brazos Minshew, Chief Science Officer
There are two times when your world will spin: When you are in love, and when you have vertigo! Since there is no cure for being in love, this Weekly Wellness Report will cover the remedies for vertigo.
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| Benign vertigo Vertigo is not usually a sign of a serious disease. It is typically transient (it comes and goes) and resolves on its own without medical care. The most common cause is an upper respiratory infection such as a sinus infection. Most people who suffer with vertigo learn instinctively to sit up slowly and avoid quick movements of the head. If benign vertigo is associated with allergies, Vitamin C is in my personal opinion an absolutely awesome antihistamine. Using the Vitamin C flush* will often bring relief from signs and symptoms of allergies. If the vertigo is associated with bronchial or sinus congestion, adding TriVita’s Breathe Easy formula to your supplement regimen can help. Breathe Easy works by drying out excessive mucous, and thinning normal body fluids. This is important because one of the causes of vertigo is abnormal movement of the fluid and crystals in the inner ear. During a recent TriVita event in Vancouver, Canada, I experienced vertigo following a head cold. I was dreading my presentation because of the dizziness. Fortunately, an enthusiastic TriVita supporter shared her Breathe Easy with me and the vertigo – as well as the head cold symptoms – cleared very rapidly. Dangerous vertigo Head trauma and clogged arteries require medical intervention. These conditions also require extra nutrients called antioxidants. An antioxidant is a special nutrient that reduces oxidation. Oxidation can be likened to rust in your blood vessels, brain and inner ear. One family of antioxidants has a special affinity for the tiny blood vessels in the frontal lobe of the brain, the inner ear and the eyes. These antioxidants are found in TriVita’s VisionGuard. A certain type of tumor called an acoustic neuroma may cause vertigo. These are rare tumors, but the incidence of acoustic neuroma seems to increase with cell phone usage. The evidence for this link is weak but troubling. Certainly, we should take appropriate precautions when using cell phones while scientists further investigate the link between cell phones and acoustic neuromas. Meniere’s disease Unfortunately, damaged nerves heal slowly. Vitamin B-12 may help speed the repair of damaged nerves. Certainly, the antioxidant remedies mentioned above may add to the health of the blood vessels in the inner ear. Learning to listen *Please check with your healthcare provider before starting the Vitamin C Flush. Source: TriVita’s Weekly Wellness Report December 6, 2008 |
