Chiropractor Ventura offers important information on balance. Here’s what you need to know:  Regulating and maintaining body position while staying still or mobile is the most crucial function of good balance. Good balance helps an individual to walk without staggering, arise from a sitting position without slipping, and to climb stairs without slipping.

Approximately 9 percent of adults, age 65 and older, describe having challenges with balance. Good balance is necessary in assisting an older person to stay independent, and perform daily chores and activities. Dizziness, “wooziness,” and difficulties with balance are suffered by quite a few persons as they age.

The term, vertigo, relates to the experience that some people have that they, themselves, or their environment is spinning. About 40 percent of Americans will experience dizziness that is severe enough to go to a doctor. And, among older adults, falls are the most widespread cause of serious injury and deaths.

Balance and Inner Ear Challenges

Three types of balance disorders that are most prevalent are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, labyrinthitis, and Meniere’s disease, but there are a variety of other kinds of balance disorders. Of these three, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the most prevalent. Its symptoms involve a brief, intense feeling of vertigo with a change in head position, when rolling over to the left or right in bed or when getting out of bed, or when looking up for something on a high shelf. This affliction is more likely to occur in persons 60 and older, however it can also happen in younger individuals.

There are various causes for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Inner ear infection, head injury, or simply aging can produce the affliction. Often times a simple Epleys procedure can correct the problem, but it can be linked to other disease processes. Your Ventura Chiropractor has many years of experience in this procedure.

Labyrinthitis is an infection or irritation of the inner ear that creates dizziness and loss of balance. It affects people|individuals of any age and the cause is currently undiscovered.

Ménière’s disease is a balance disorder that creates vertigo, hearing loss irregular, tinnitus (ringing or roaring in the ears), and a “full feeling” in the ear.

Though older individuals are more likely to encounter balance disorders, age is not the only cause for why these problems take place. Depending on the cause of the balance disorder, care will vary. A chiropractor is highly skilled in assessing and treating many of the causes. Not infrequently, even simple exercises for vestibular rehab can be the answer to balance challenges. Make an appointment with a health care professional, such as your Ventura Chiropractor, if you have experienced, or are currently experiencing, dizziness, vertigo, or other problems with balance.

Not all balance disorders are caused by challenges in the inner ear. Some may involve other regions of the body like the brain or heart. Other components, besides aging and ear infection, may include head injury, certain medicines, challenges with blood circulation, upper respiratory infections, viral infections, stress, fatigue, smoking, alcohol use, stroke, high or low blood pressure, and heart disease.

Balance disorders caused by high blood pressure can normally be managed by less sodium intake,sustaining a healthy weight, and exercise. To aid in making the symptoms of dizziness less acute, most often eating low-salt or salt-free foods, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol, will help.

Balance disorders are dangerous. It is the primary cause of falls and fall-related injuries in older people. It is crucial to have a possible balance disorder analyzed and treated as soon as possible.

If you can answer “yes” to any of the questions listed below, you should discuss the symptom(s) with your chiropractor:

• Do you have the feeling of being “unsteady?”

• Does the room seem to spin around you?

• Is there ever a time when you feel as if you are moving when you know you are standing still?

• Do you lose your balance and/or fall?

• Do you feel as if you are falling?

• Does your vision ever become “blurred?”

• Do you ever feel disoriented, or lose a sense of time, place or identify?

Don’t wait until it’s too late! Call your chiropractor today.

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