Balance Disorders from Head to Toe
Presented by
Dana Truttmann, AuD, Audiology
Jim Cumming, PT, Physical Therapy
Brian Knutson, PA-C, Otorhinolaryngology
Monday, March 31, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.
Founders Hall, Clinic building - lower level - Monroe
No cost to attend.
To register, call 1-877-865-1462 or visit www.monroeclinic.org.
Understand how your balance system works, gain fall prevention tips and learn how a balance assessment can help you.
• Win a free balance screening with a physical therapist
• Enjoy light refreshments
Q. I often experience dizziness and problems with balance, especially when I try to sit up, stand or walk. Is this a normal part of aging?
A. While balance disorders are more common with increasing age, they are not a normal part of the aging process.
The causes of balance disorders are diverse, but most are treatable. Never simply accept a balance disorder as a part of life, because it can greatly increase the risk of falling, reduce mobility, and cause a number of other uncomfortable symptoms. In turn, falling is a major cause of injury and disability, as well as the top cause of injury-related deaths in older adults. Dizziness while driving or operating machinery can also be a safety hazard. In some cases, a balance disorder is a symptom of an underlying condition that can result in serious, long-term problems if left untreated.
Symptoms of a Balance Disorder
The potential causes of a balance disorder are many, so symptoms can vary from one person to the next. Common symptoms include:
• Dizziness or unsteadiness
• Vertigo (the room is spinning)
• Lightheadedness, wooziness or faintness
• Fatigue or weakness
• Blurred vision, especially after moving the head
• Feeling disoriented
• Nausea
The Many Causes of Balance Disorders
The general causes of balance disorders are generally classified into four categories:
1) peripheral vestibular disorder: a disturbance in the labyrinth, an organ in our inner ear that communicates with other body systems to establish balance.
2) central vestibular disorder: a problem in the brain or the nerves.
3) systemic disorder: a problem somewhere other than the head and brain.
4) vascular disorder: a problem with blood flow.
From head to toe, our ability to balance depends on many parts of the body doing their jobs properly. However, our ears play a central role in maintaining our sense of balance and equilibrium. The inner ear houses the body's organ of balance, the vestibular labyrinth. This organ works with the eyes and nerves that sense movement to keep balance and the body's position in check. That means when all is not right with your ears, the problem can manifest itself in your balance.
Some of the most common forms of balance disorders include:
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)-When naturally occurring, tiny crystals made of calcium carbonate break loose in our inner ears, they might fall into an area where they stimulate balance sensors. When a person with BPPV makes a sudden movement and causes these particles to shift, it can produce dizziness or vertigo.
Infection of the inner ear - Inflammation of the labyrinth or surrounding nerves can cause dizziness or balance loss.
Ménière's disease - Inner ear fluid is not balanced, which can cause problems with vertigo, hearing loss, ringing sounds and a feeling of fullness in the ear.
Perilymph fistula - Inner ear lymphatic fluid leaks into a part of the inner ear where it doesn't belong, resulting in dizziness or vertigo. Problems get worse with exertion, sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose.
How to Get Help
Because the possible causes of balance disorders are diverse, people seeking medical help can start with their primary care provider or an otorhynolaryngologist (a surgeon specializing in disorders of the ear, nose, throat, head and neck).
While balance disorders occur more frequently or noticeably with age, they can occur in people of all ages. If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, do not hesitate to seek medical attention.
A. While balance disorders are more common with increasing age, they are not a normal part of the aging process.
The causes of balance disorders are diverse, but most are treatable. Never simply accept a balance disorder as a part of life, because it can greatly increase the risk of falling, reduce mobility, and cause a number of other uncomfortable symptoms. In turn, falling is a major cause of injury and disability, as well as the top cause of injury-related deaths in older adults. Dizziness while driving or operating machinery can also be a safety hazard. In some cases, a balance disorder is a symptom of an underlying condition that can result in serious, long-term problems if left untreated.
Symptoms of a Balance Disorder
The potential causes of a balance disorder are many, so symptoms can vary from one person to the next. Common symptoms include:
• Dizziness or unsteadiness
• Vertigo (the room is spinning)
• Lightheadedness, wooziness or faintness
• Fatigue or weakness
• Blurred vision, especially after moving the head
• Feeling disoriented
• Nausea
The Many Causes of Balance Disorders
The general causes of balance disorders are generally classified into four categories:
1) peripheral vestibular disorder: a disturbance in the labyrinth, an organ in our inner ear that communicates with other body systems to establish balance.
2) central vestibular disorder: a problem in the brain or the nerves.
3) systemic disorder: a problem somewhere other than the head and brain.
4) vascular disorder: a problem with blood flow.
From head to toe, our ability to balance depends on many parts of the body doing their jobs properly. However, our ears play a central role in maintaining our sense of balance and equilibrium. The inner ear houses the body's organ of balance, the vestibular labyrinth. This organ works with the eyes and nerves that sense movement to keep balance and the body's position in check. That means when all is not right with your ears, the problem can manifest itself in your balance.
Some of the most common forms of balance disorders include:
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)-When naturally occurring, tiny crystals made of calcium carbonate break loose in our inner ears, they might fall into an area where they stimulate balance sensors. When a person with BPPV makes a sudden movement and causes these particles to shift, it can produce dizziness or vertigo.
Infection of the inner ear - Inflammation of the labyrinth or surrounding nerves can cause dizziness or balance loss.
Ménière's disease - Inner ear fluid is not balanced, which can cause problems with vertigo, hearing loss, ringing sounds and a feeling of fullness in the ear.
Perilymph fistula - Inner ear lymphatic fluid leaks into a part of the inner ear where it doesn't belong, resulting in dizziness or vertigo. Problems get worse with exertion, sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose.
How to Get Help
Because the possible causes of balance disorders are diverse, people seeking medical help can start with their primary care provider or an otorhynolaryngologist (a surgeon specializing in disorders of the ear, nose, throat, head and neck).
While balance disorders occur more frequently or noticeably with age, they can occur in people of all ages. If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, do not hesitate to seek medical attention.
