Q: I’m not sure what’s going on, but once
in a while, I find myself losing my balance. Is this just an aging thing or
what?
A: About one in 10 people over
65-years-old experience difficulty with balance. More than 40 percent of
Americans will go to a doctor complaining of dizziness. Getting older is only
part of the problem. Inner-ear disturbances are the primary cause.
Losing balance when you’re older is
serious stuff. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
reports that each year, more than one-third of people over 65-years-old suffer
a fall. Falls are the leading cause of injury and deaths among older
adults. And, even if the fall doesn’t kill you, you could fracture a hip and
then a whole bunch of problems can cascade over you—limitations on activities,
isolation, loss of independence and even depression.
Not all balance problems have the same cause. Here are several major
ones:
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
(BPPV), with BPPV, one of the most common causes of balance problems, you get
vertigo when you change the position of your head. You may also experience BPPV
when you roll over, get out of bed or when you look on a high shelf. BPPV is
more likely to occur in people over 60-years-old.
Labyrinthitis is an infection or inflammation of
the inner ear. The labyrinth is the organ in your inner ear that enables you to
maintain balance.
Ménière’s disease, which can also give you
intermittent hearing loss, is a ringing or roaring in the ears and a feeling of
fullness in the ear.
Other causes may involve another part
of the body, such as the brain or the heart. Aging, infections, head injury,
certain medicines or problems with blood circulation may also cause problems
with balance.
Blood-pressure medications and some
antibiotics can cause balance problems. If you are taking any
drugs in these categories and feel off-balance, it’s worth discussing with your
doctor.
Some people may have a balance problem
and don’t know it. Balance disorders can be difficult to diagnose because
patients sometimes can’t describe their symptoms thoroughly.
Balance disorders can be signs of
other health problems, so it’s important to have them checked out.
If you can answer any of the following
positively, discuss the symptom(s) with your doctor.
Do I feel: Unsteady? Disoriented? As
if the room is spinning? As if I’m moving when I’m still? As if I’m falling? As
if I might faint?
Also, do you ever lose your balance
and fall? Or, do you experience blurred vision?
Persistent balance problems are not
something you should pass off as a harmless part of the aging process. They
should always be examined carefully.
If you have a question, please write
to fredcicetti@gmail.com
All Rights Reserved © 2007 by Fred Cicetti