Relationship Between the Onset of Dizziness and Weather

―Meniere's Disease―

Abstract

　Correlations between vertigo, weather fronts, cold temperatures, and low pressures with episodes of Meniere's disease have been previously reported earlier. Such previous reports have indicated that sudden changes in pressure in the inner ear because of weather fronts are a leading causative factor of Meniere's disease. The insertion of a ventilation tube into the eardrum is a recognized method of maintaining a pressure equilibrium in the middle ear. Although the usefulness of this tube has been questioned, it seems to be an acceptable option when choosing between conservative therapy and invasive treatment. Cochlear symptoms and vertigo improve under a relatively positive pressure in the middle ear when patients with Meniere's disease are placed in a decompression chamber. Therefore, a new device that sends micro-pressure pulses into the ear (e.g., the Meniett^® device) has become available in western countries. Because this device has not yet been approved in Japan, eardrum massage machines are expected to be used as an alternative method for the treatment of Meniere's disease.