*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature L: Laxatives.

Menieres Disease

M?ni?re's disease is a rare inner ear condition that can affect your balance and hearing. It cannot be cured, but treatment can help the symptoms.

Check if you have M?ni?re's disease

M?ni?re's disease symptoms come and go.

When you get symptoms, they start suddenly and can last anywhere between a few minutes and 24 hours. Some people have symptoms more often than others.

Symptoms include:

feeling like you or everything around you is spinning (vertigo)
losing your balance
ringing or buzzing sounds in 1 or both ears (tinnitus)
hearing loss
feeling pressure, discomfort or pain deep inside your ear
feeling or being sick

Over time, your hearing may gradually get worse and you may get constant tinnitus.

If you're not sure it's M?ni?re's disease

Having these symptoms does not mean you definitely have M?ni?re's disease.

Conditions that can have similar symptoms include:

Do not self-diagnose. See a GP if you're worried.

See a GP if:

you have symptoms of M?ni?re's disease

Call 999 if:

You feel like you or everything around you is spinning and:

your face droops on 1 side (the mouth or eye may have drooped)
you cannot lift up both arms and keep them there
you have difficulty speaking (speech may be slurred or garbled)
you have sudden problems with the vision in 1 eye

These can be signs of a stroke, which is a medical emergency. The symptoms of a stroke usually come on suddenly.

What happens at your appointment

If you have symptoms of M?ni?re's disease, a GP will ask you about your symptoms, check inside your ears, and look at your head and neck.

They may also ask you to do some exercises, such as marching on the spot or standing with your heels together and your eyes closed.

If the GP thinks you have M?ni?re's disease, they'll refer you to a specialist for further tests, such as blood tests and an MRI scan.

Treatment for M?ni?re's disease

There's no cure for M?ni?re's disease, but your symptoms can be managed with treatment.

Treatment includes:

medicines to help symptoms such as vertigo, feeling sick and being sick
hearing aids
help to manage your tinnitus, which can include different types of therapy
help to improve your balance (vestibular rehabilitation)

Rarely, you may be offered surgery on your inner ear if you're finding it difficult to manage your symptoms.

M?ni?re's disease can have an impact on your everyday life, which can affect your mental health.

Counselling and relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises, can help.

Things you can try to help with M?ni?re's disease

M?ni?re's disease symptoms can come on suddenly and without warning.

There are some lifestyle changes you can make that may help manage the symptoms.

Do

keep your medicines with you at all times
consider the risks and take care if doing things like swimming, climbing ladders or using dangerous machinery
drink lots of fluids
talk to a GP about trying a low-salt diet
try to avoid caffeine in drinks such as tea and coffee and foods like chocolate

Don't

do not drive if you feel dizzy or symptoms of vertigo are coming on
do not drink alcohol
do not smoke

Important

You must tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if you have dizziness that comes on suddenly or happens often.

GOV.UK: Dizziness or vertigo and driving

Find out more

M?ni?re's Society: M?ni?re's disease

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature L: Laxatives. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
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