Have you been waiting for Steven's book, Of Course You Can! to be available in a printed version? Wait no longer! The Second Edition is now available in print . The book is longer, containing additional content to help you build your business.

And while you're there, you can explore some of Steven's digital art works.

Meniere's Disease

Greetings Herbalife Distributors,

I hope you enjoyed our last newsletter on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Do you know you can make a 20% commission by referring other Herbalife Distributors to Herbacall? To sign up as an affiliate, go here.

Herbacall.com is the only website created specifically for Herbalife distributors. It's a great source of information, resources, testimonials, recipes, and advice to help you grow your business. It also comes with a fully functional Forum to share stories with the rest of the Herbalife community.

Do you have an idea for the next newsletter? Would you like to share a story, recipe, or testimonial with your fellow distributors? Register at www.herbacall.com for more information.

Have a great day!

Steven List, Founder
Herbacall.com

Facts about Meniere's Disease:

Meniere's disease is a disorder of the flow of fluids of the inner ear. Named after French physician Prosper Ménière who first described the syndrome in 1861. Although the cause of Meniere's disease is unknown, it probably results from an abnormality in the way fluid of the inner ear is regulated. In most cases only one ear is involved, but both ears may be affected in about 10% to 20% of patients. Meniere's disease typically starts between the ages of 20 and 50 years of age (although it has been reported in nearly all age groups).

Men and women are equally affected. The symptoms may be only a minor nuisance, or can become disabling, especially if the attacks of vertigo are severe, frequent, and occur without warning. Meniere's disease is also called idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops.

Sources:
MedicineNet.com: http://www.medicinenet.com/meniere_disease/article.htm
National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/balance/meniere.asp

What are the causes of Meniere's Disease?

The causes of Meniere's disease are associated with a change in fluid volume within a portion of the inner ear known as the labyrinth. The labyrinth has two parts: the bony labyrinth and the membranous labyrinth. The membranous labyrinth, which is encased by bone, is necessary for hearing and balance and is filled with a fluid called endolymph. When your head moves, endolymph moves, causing nerve receptors in the membranous labyrinth to send signals to the brain about the body's motion. An increase in endolymph, however, can cause the membranous labyrinth to balloon or dilate, a condition known as endolymphatic hydrops.

For the most part, the underlying cause of Meniere's disease is unknown. It is most often attributed to viral infections of the inner ear, head injury, a hereditary predisposition, and allergy. Meniere's disease can cause hair cell death, as well as mechanical changes to the ear.

Many experts on Meniere's disease think that a rupture of the membranous labyrinth allows the endolymph to mix with perilymph, another inner ear fluid that occupies the space between the membranous labyrinth and the bony inner ear. This mixing, scientists believe, can cause the symptoms of Meniere's disease. Scientists are investigating several possible causes of the disease, including environmental factors, such as noise pollution and viral infections, as well as biological factors.

Sources:
American Hearing Research Foundation:
http://www.american-hearing.org/disorders/menieres/menieres.html
National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/balance/meniere.asp

What are the symptoms of Meniere's Disease?

The symptoms of Meniere's disease occur suddenly and can arise daily or as infrequently as once a year. Vertigo, often the most debilitating symptom of Meniere's disease. The symptoms of Meniere's disease typically include at least several of the following:

Episodic rotational vertigo: Attacks of a spinning sensation accompanied by disequilibrium (an off-balanced sensation), nausea, and sometimes vomiting. This is usually the most troublesome symptom. The vertigo usually last 20 minutes to two hours or even longer. During attacks, patients are very disabled, and sleepiness may follow. An off-balanced sensation may last for several days.

Tinnitus: A roaring, buzzing, machine-like, or ringing sound in the ear. It may be episodic with an attack of vertigo or it may be constant. Usually the tinnitus gets worse or will appear just before the onset of the vertigo.

Hearing loss: It may be intermittent early in the onset of the disease, but overtime it may become a fixed hearing loss. It may involve all frequencies, but most commonly occurs in the lower frequencies. Loud sounds may be uncomfortable and appear distorted in the affected ear.

Ear fullness: Usually this full feeling occurs just before the onset of an attack of vertigo.

Sources:
MedicineNet.com: http://www.medicinenet.com/meniere_disease/article.htm
National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/balance/meniere.asp

What treatments are available for Meniere's Disease?

There is no cure for Meniere's disease, but a number of strategies may help you manage some symptoms.

Medications for vertigo - Your doctor may prescribe medications to be taken during an episode of vertigo to lessen the severity of an attack:

Motion sickness medications, such as meclizine (Antivert) or diazepam (Valium), may reduce the spinning sensation of vertigo and help control nausea and vomiting.

Anti-nausea medications, such as prochlorperazine, may control nausea and vomiting during an episode of vertigo.

Long-term medication use - Your doctor may prescribe a medication to reduce fluid retention (diuretic), such as the drug combination triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide (Dyazide, Maxzide). Reducing the amount of fluid your body retains may help regulate the fluid volume and pressure in your inner ear.

Dietary changes - Modifying your diet can reduce your body's fluid retention and help decrease fluid in your inner ear.

Middle ear injections - Medications injected into the middle ear, and then absorbed into the inner ear, may improve vertigo symptoms:

Gentamicin, an antibiotic that's toxic to your inner ear, reduces the balancing function of your ear, and your other ear assumes responsibility for balance. The procedure, which can be performed with local anesthesia in your doctor's office, often reduces the frequency and severity of vertigo attacks. There is a risk, however, of further hearing loss.

Steroids, such as dexamethasone, also may help control vertigo attacks in some people. This procedure can also be performed with local anesthesia by your doctor. Although dexamethasone injections may be slightly less effective than gentamicin, dexamethasone is less likely than gentamicin to cause further hearing loss.

Surgery - If vertigo attacks associated with Meniere's disease are severe and debilitating and other treatments don't help, surgery may be an option. Procedures may include:

Endolymphatic sac procedures. The endolymphatic sac plays a role in regulating inner ear fluid levels. These surgical procedures may alleviate vertigo by decreasing fluid production or increasing fluid absorption.

Labyrinthectomy. With this procedure, the surgeon removes a portion or all of the inner ear, thereby removing both balance and hearing function from the affected ear. This procedure is only performed if you already have near-total or total hearing loss in your affected ear.

Vestibular nerve section. This procedure involves cutting the nerve that connects balance and movement sensors in your inner ear to the brain (vestibular nerve). This procedure usually corrects problems with vertigo while attempting to preserve hearing in the affected ear.

Rehabilitation - If you experience problems with your balance between episodes of vertigo, you may benefit from vestibular rehabilitation therapy. The goal of this therapy, which may include exercises and activities that you perform during therapy sessions and at home, is to help your body and brain regain the ability to process balance information correctly.

Hearing aid - A hearing aid in the ear affected by Meniere's disease may improve your hearing. Your doctor can refer you to an audiologist to discuss what hearing aid options would be best for you.

Sources:
National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/balance/meniere.asp
Mayoclinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/menieres-disease/DS00535/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

HerbaCall Meniere's Disease Testimonials:

· Schalk Lubbe tells Herbacall, "In 1999 I was diagnosed with Meniere's Disease - a disease of the inner ear, which causes symptoms much like Otitis Media (infections of the middle ear), namely dizziness and nausea, sometimes leading to vomiting...So, in September 1999, I started on the Herbalife products, using mainly the shake (one per day), one Tang Kuei tablet per day, and the Thermo for energy. Subsequently, I also started to take the NRG, but NRG is not caffeine free (and caffeine is the one thing a Meniere's patient is advised to eliminate from the diet), so I won't suggest that new Meniere's patients take it. Well, the results were nothing short of stunning. During the first half of 2000, I was only on sick leave (due to Meniere's) for three days, and thereafter I have never been off work one single day as a result of Meniere's!"

· Martha Roberts said proudly, "I have suffered from Meniere's Syndrome for about 14 years now. The first year was plagued with attacks of Vertigo at any given time up to 4 times per week. These attacks literally put me out of commission for days at a time....The products I currently take for this condition are: Shapeworks, Formula 1 - at least 1 shake per day, Multivitamin 3/day, Cell activator 6/day, Cell U Loss 3/day and Tang Kuei Plus 3/day...All in all - Herbalife has changed my whole life. While none of my conditions are life threatening - they are definitely life changing, but now I am free from them and the associated stress. There's nothing like having to pull over to the side of the road and trying to remain still (in a car with bucket seats, no less) for an hour or two until your equilibrium is restored."

· Ody Deans said, "I've suffered from Vertigo. I went to 7 different doctors, and the 7th one put me onto a low-salt diet. When I asked why, his explanation was salt causes water retention, which creates pressure on the middle ear. So I lessened my salt intake, and I think with the help of Herbalifeline, Tang Kuei and Herbal Complex, it seems to have worked for me so far."

· Want more information and more Herbalife testimonials?

Visit HerbaCall.com for more detailed information on many health conditions, news, and research links. HerbaCall has many testimonials on Diabetes and other conditions. Herbalife products can help calm your digestive system!