Monday, April 27, 2015

Life in the balance: All about addressing balance issues

The art of keeping balance as accomplished by the human body is so intuitive to many people that it is often taken for granted by anyone who isn't a gymnast or acrobat. Balance issues, however, are very real conditions that can severely impair mobility and daily functions.

Image Source: prevention.com

Balance disorders are characterized by sudden bouts of dizziness and lightheadedness and of spinning surroundings (vertigo) and are sometimes accompanied by blurry vision and outright disorientation. Side effects include nausea and vomiting.

Image Source: hittingperformancelab.com

As a whole, balance issues often start suddenly and with no obvious causes and are very difficult to diagnose. They are caused by a number of reasons, including arthritis, muscle imbalance and medical conditions such as low blood pressure. The most well known reasons, however, are ailments that affect the organs located within the inner ear. A person's sense of balance is maintained by the balance of fluids in the labyrinth and other inner ear organs that comprise the vestibular system, responsible for keeping a person's head oriented correctly.

These disorders can lead to falls among older adults, which can jeopardize their wellbeing and quality of life by causing serious, often lifelong injuries that are difficult to recover from.

Image Source: medicinenet.com

Treatment usually entails pinpointing the exact cause of the balance issue and treat it. Sometimes this involves medication, while other times the moments of vertigo and dizziness must be coped with, necessitating specialized therapy. In the meantime, patients must clarify with their doctors which activity is safe for them in their current condition.

Dr. Mary Kneiser is a trusted authority in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation and receives excellent marks from three top hospitals. Visit her website for more on her and her contact details.