“Doctor, my mom had Meniere’s disease, will I get it, too?”
This question concerns many patients seeking answers about their risk of developing this condition. After examining hundreds of patients from across the state, we’ve come to understand that family history can create a lot of understandable anxiety – Sometimes unnecessarily so.
Meniere’s disease is a condition that wreaks havoc on the inner ear, causing patients to suffer from sudden vertigo attacks, hearing loss that can come and go, relentless tinnitus, and pressure that can feel overwhelming. However, what surprises most people is that genetics isn’t the whole story when it comes to this disease.
Living at higher altitudes adds another consideration for Colorado residents. Altitude changes affect inner ear pressure in ways that can worsen symptoms; something that has been documented when patients report flare-ups during travel to elevated locations.
What Actually Happens in Meniere’s Disease
Picture the inner ear as a delicate, fluid-filled system. The cochlea handles hearing, while the vestibular organs control balance. Normally, fluid flows smoothly through these chambers, but for those with Meniere’s, excess fluid builds up like pressure behind a dam.
When pressure finally releases, patients can experience spinning vertigo, which is often so intense that they aren’t able to stand. Some attacks last twenty minutes, but others can drag on for hours, leaving patients with nausea and complete disability.
Learn more about how Meniere’s disease is diagnosed and treated.
The Muddy Genetic Picture
Here’s what researchers have learned about families and Meniere’s disease: only about 5 to 15 patients out of every 100 have relatives who also suffer from the condition. This means that most people with Meniere’s disease are the first in their family to get it.
Scientists have found some genes that might be linked to Meniere’s. The genes exert control over the workings of the inner ear. The important takeaway is that having these genes doesn’t automatically mean you’ll develop Meniere’s, its prevalence is just more prominent in those with the condition.
Think of it like this: your genes might make you more likely to get the disease, but other things in your life actually cause it to happen. These other things include infections, stress, what you eat, and your environment.
The bottom line? Most people with Meniere’s disease don’t have family members with it. Their condition begins because of events that occur in their life, not because of their genes. Genetics plays a small role, but they’re not the main reason people get this disease.
Red Flags to Watch For
If you suspect that Meniere’s runs in your family, here are some early warning signs to look for:
- The feeling of fullness in one ear that won’t resolve. Almost like being permanently stuck during airplane descent. Many ignore this symptom for months, which can not only delay treatment but also cause further harm to your hearing.
- Unusual sounds like ringing, buzzing, or whooshing that appear randomly, then vanish. These episodes often precede full attacks by years and are a good indication that you should seek professional care.
- Hearing that fluctuates unpredictably. Conversations may be muffled one day and clear the next. This fluctuation particularly affects low-pitched sounds in its initial phases.
- Instability or balance issues. Those with Meniere’s might feel slightly off-kilter in crowds or when turning their head quickly. Many patients describe the sensation as that of walking on an unsteady surface.
Learn how to spot Meniere’s disease.
Altitude Considerations
With many parts of the state covered in mountainous or elevated terrain, pressure changes can also trigger some of this condition’s symptoms. As a person experiences pressure changes, much like what one would encounter going up and over a mountain pass, inner ear fluid pressure can affect comfort levels.
Weather fronts can also contribute to rapid barometric pressure drops that influence the fluid within your inner ear. Many of those affected have learned to monitor weather apps because they can often predict symptom flares.
Driving to Denver, which sits at 5,280 feet above sea level, to Vail involves a 3000-foot elevation gain that can trigger attacks on sensitive individuals. Those with this condition should try to plan accordingly when travelling, staying hydrated, and avoiding rapid elevation changes when possible can help.
Getting the Right Diagnosis
Diagnosing Meniere’s disease requires careful investigation since many conditions share its symptoms. At Colorado Ear Care, we begin by learning more about your symptoms, family and health history, and any potential triggers.
Hearing tests can also reveal the characteristic low-frequency hearing loss that fluctuates over time for those affected. Balance testing using videonystagmography (VNG) and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) can also show inner ear response to stimulation.
Sometimes, a brain MRI becomes necessary to rule out acoustic neuromas or other neurological conditions that can masquerade as Meniere’s, which is another reason working with an expert team familiar with the condition can be so crucial to improving outcomes.
Treatment Options for Meniere’s
Whether from genetics or environmental factors, patients suffering from this condition have options for relief. Those with familial histories often respond well to therapy, while others may struggle more to find the right treatment option for them.
Salt restriction forms the cornerstone of management for most. Keeping sodium under 2,000mg daily can help reduce fluid retention. Vestibular rehabilitation can also help to retrain the brain to compensate for inner ear dysfunction. Sometimes, medication may be a necessary response to the sudden onset of vertigo or to augment preventative therapies. Diuretics also help some patients by reducing overall fluid retention.
Severe cases sometimes require intratympanic injections – where steroids or gentamicin are delivered directly into the middle ear. These procedures bypass systemic side effects while targeting the problem area precisely.
The Bottom Line on Meniere’s
Meniere’s progression varies significantly between individuals, regardless of family history. Some patients stabilize after years, while others manage their symptoms long-term.
Success comes from understanding personal trigger patterns and developing effective coping strategies. Most patients eventually learn to live full, active lives despite their diagnosis.
One key to their success is early intervention that works to protect hearing. Anyone who experiences frequent vertigo with changes to their hearing or persistent ear ringing should not wait to have their hearing checked.
Especially for those of us in Colorado, dealing with elevation-related complications can benefit from working with experts who understand these challenges. Our providers specialize in navigating the complex relationship between genetics and environmental factors that can make symptoms worse. Regardless of the trigger or contributing factors, effective treatment remains achievable.
Don’t wait until your symptoms interfere with your daily life. If you are experiencing dizziness, balance issues, or unusual artifacts in your hearing, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our expert providers.