Thursday, September 20, 2018

Secondary Endolymphatic Hydrops

Wow that’s a mouthful. Secondary Endolymphatic Hydrops affects the endolymphatic fluid of the cochlea, vestibular apparatus or both. The exact cause is unknown, but believed to be caused by abnormalities in the quantity, composition, and/or pressure of the endolymph (the fluid within the endolymphatic sac, a compartment of the inner ear).

Endolymphatic hydrops may be either primary or secondary. Primary idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops (known as Ménière’s disease) occurs for no known reason. Secondary endolymphatic hydrops appears to occur in response to an event or underlying condition. For example, it can follow head trauma or ear surgery, and it can occur with other inner ear disorders, allergies, or systemic disorders (such as diabetes or autoimmune disorders).

Endolymphatic hydrops may be either primary or secondary. Primary idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops (known as Ménière’s disease) occurs for no known reason. Secondary endolymphatic hydrops appears to occur in response to an event or underlying condition. For example, it can follow head trauma or ear surgery, and it can occur with other inner ear disorders, allergies, or systemic disorders (such as diabetes or autoimmune disorders).

Endolymphatic hydrops may be either primary or secondary. Primary idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops (known as Ménière’s disease) occurs for no known reason. Secondary endolymphatic hydrops appears to occur in response to an event or underlying condition. For example, it can follow head trauma or ear surgery, and it can occur with other inner ear disorders, allergies, or systemic disorders (such as diabetes or autoimmune disorders).

Symptoms:

  1.  pressure or fullness in the ears (aural fullness)
  2. tinnitus (ringing or other noise in the ears)
  3. hearing loss
  4. dizziness
  5. imbalance

Diagnosis is often based on the patient’s history, observation, symptoms and symptom patterns. New research has shown that MRI with contrast may show abnormalities that show endolymphatic hydrops, but may not distinguish between primary and secondary.

The treatment of secondary endolymphatic hydrops (SEH) is somewhat different. Since SEH is secondary to (that is, results from) an underlying disorder, the symptoms tend to be present more continuously, rather than occur­ring in spontaneous attacks. However, they are often less violent, and SEH may cause less damage to hearing and balance than does Ménière’s disease.

Treatment of SEH has five goals:

  1. stabilize the body’s fluid and electrolyte levels
  2. identify and treat the underlying condition that is driving the SEH
  3. improve daily symptoms
  4.  manage persistent symptoms and changes
  5. maintain quality of life.

Treatment:

  1. Hydrops diet regimen - Eating a balanced diet in moderate amounts at regular intervals—with meals and snacks of a consistent size, eaten at about the same time every day, without skipping meals or alternating tiny snacks with huge meals—helps the body’s fluid and electrolyte levels remain stable.
  2. Minimize the use of salt & sugar- don’t add salt or sugar to food & avoid processed foods.
  3. Diuretics may be prescribed. It’s important to drink lots of water when on them. You may need to use a potassium supplement.
  4. Medication may be prescribed to help with dizziness, nausea or vomiting.
  5. Maintaining normal weight, or losing any excess weight. When a person is overweight, the vestibular system must struggle to deal with a larger-than-normal and displaced center of gravity.
  6. Avoiding aspirin in high doses, which can cause temporary tinnitus.
  7. Avoiding ibuprofen and other NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), which can have a direct effect on fluid balance and may increase symptoms in some SEH patients.
  8. Stopping smoking. Smoking constricts the single, tiny artery that feeds the ear, thus depriving it of oxygen and nutrients.
  9. Maintaining general health by getting adequate exercise and sleep, both can help with cardiovascular health to support the inner ear. Exercise can help the musculature needed for balance stay active.
  10. Medication or surgery that destroys the problematic inner ear section may be used in tough cases. Types of surgery: Endolymphatic decompression and labyrinthectomy
  11. SEH does not usually result in significant hearing loss. If it does occur, modern hearing aids and other assistive devices may be useful. In addition, tinnitus-masking devices can be used to help deal with annoying tinnitus.

I hope you are spin free!

Love, Peace and Light! Rita

 

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