Q What exactly causes Meniere's disease? What does it mean that fluid builds up inside the ear?
A Meniere's disease is caused by endolymphatic hydrops, in which lymph fluid accumulates excessively in the endolymphatic sac of the inner ear and raises the pressure. This increased pressure repeatedly irritates the inner ear, which governs balance and hearing, producing attacks of spinning vertigo, tinnitus, a feeling of ear fullness, and fluctuating hearing loss.
Detailed Answer
The inner ear is filled with endolymph and perilymph, which govern balance and hearing. In Meniere's disease, the endolymph is not properly absorbed and circulated, so it accumulates excessively in the endolymphatic sac and the pressure rises—a state called endolymphatic hydrops. When this pressure exceeds a critical point, an attack occurs as if a membrane bursts, and spinning vertigo (20 minutes to 12 hours), tinnitus, a blocked sensation in the ear, and fluctuating hearing loss appear together. The exact cause is still not fully understood, but autoimmune factors, viruses, and abnormalities in fluid regulation are thought to act in combination.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang, we interpret endolymphatic hydrops in Korean medicine terms as fluid-dampness (susup) stagnation—a state in which the body's water metabolism fails and fluid pools inside the ear. When the function of the Spleen-Stomach (digestive system) declines, the power to transform and transport water weakens, so phlegm-fluid (dameum) accumulates; and when Kidney deficiency (sinheo) reduces the ability to regulate body fluids, the water homeostasis of the inner ear breaks down. We view a Meniere's attack as a sign that phlegm-induced dizziness (damhun) has reached its peak, and we approach treatment by addressing both the draining of water and resolving of phlegm (isu-hwadam) and the tonifying of the Kidney (bosin) together.
Related FAQs
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Q
Can Meniere's disease be completely cured, or is it a condition I have to manage for life?
#Possibility / Realistic Goals
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I'm constantly anxious because I never know when an attack will come, and I can't even go out anymore. Is psychological distress also something you treat?
#Comorbidities
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What happens if Meniere's, which started in one ear, spreads to the other ear as well?
#Comorbidities
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Q
When a severe vertigo attack suddenly hits, what should I do right away at home?
#Lifestyle Management
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Q
What daily habits are important for preventing Meniere's attacks in everyday life?
#Lifestyle Management