Meniere's Disease & Low Sodium Levels

Named after the French physician who discovered this medical condition, Meniere's disease affects about 0.2 percent of the population, according to the American Hearing Research Foundation. Meniere's can cause such severe attacks of dizziness that you lose your balance and fall, forcing you to do nothing but remain quiet as long as it takes for the attack to subside. Keeping levels of sodium low can help manage these symptoms.

Inner Ear

The inner ear has fluid-filled structures that send signals to your brain about your body's position and movement. This fluid is responsible for balance. Another part of the inner ear, called the cochlea, also contains fluid that responds to sound vibrations and is responsible for hearing. Too much fluid in the inner ear that interferes with normal balance and hearing is called Meniere's disease. Symptoms of Meniere's come and go in episodes that include dizziness, ringing in the ear, hearing loss and a feeling of congestion in the ear.

Fluid Balance

Your body must maintain a specific volume of fluids to ensure adequate blood pressure and functioning. Keeping this balance is an ongoing process. Internal sensors monitor several changes related to fluid balance, including the amount of fluids you consume versus fluid loss and the amount of sodium circulating in the blood. However, the inner ear operates independently because a very stable volume of fluid and concentration of minerals must be maintained to ensure proper balance and protect hearing. Injury or disease can cause the ear to lose this independence. When fluids inside the ear fluctuate in response to changes in the body's fluid balance, the result is Meniere's disease.

Low Sodium

The amount of sodium circulating through your body influences fluid volume. As sodium in the blood increases, fluid volume also increases. As sodium decreases, body fluids also decrease. Limiting dietary sodium, or salt, reduces fluids in the body. If you have Meniere's disease, reduced fluids in the body lowers the fluid volume and pressure in the inner ear. People diagnosed with Meniere's may be advised to restrict their sodium intake to 1,000 mg to 2,000 mg a day, according to the Vestibular Disorders Association.

Dietary Guidelines

The goal is to use your diet to maintain a stable volume of body fluids throughout the day. Eat about the same amount of food at regular intervals. Limit caffeine, alcohol, sugar and foods that contain monosodium glutamate. Fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry, fish and grains are all naturally low in salt, and they remain low-sodium choices as long as you don't add a lot of salt during cooking or at the table. Avoid convenience foods, restaurants, canned products, processed meats and snacks because these products usually contain a lot of sodium.