Cincinnati Chiropractic

At my Cincinnati Chiropractic Clinic I treat plenty of older adults who are challenged by balance problems. In fact, 9% of adults, aged 65 and over, are affected by dizziness, “wooziness,” and other balance-related problems. Good balance is crucial, of course, in aiding elders in continuing to be independent and to avoid falling down and sustaining injuries that are frequently extremely serious or even fatal. But, what you may not know is that falls produce a large percentage of work-related injuries for workers under 65 years of age, including those in their twenties and thirties. That’s right! Balance problems can take place at any age. That is why those who work in”precarious locations” like construction workers, roofers, oil platform employees, windows cleaners, or anywhere else where a ladder is required are in danger of serious injury if their balance isn’t good.

The principal function of good balance is to assist us in managing and maintaining our body position, whether standing still or moving, and whether on the ground or high up on a platform. Good balance helps us to walk without stumbling, arise from a sitting position without swaying, and to climb stairs without slipping. To sum it up, then, good balance is vital to our health and well-being.

What is commonly surprising to some young adults, in particular is that they could have a balance dysfunction without any idea of how threatening it is. Sometimes a person can “shake off” a dizzy feeling and the sensation may not come back for a while. But, when unexpected dizziness comes about at a critical moment, it is too late to shake it off and a fall is usually certain.

Vertigo is the medical term for the sensation that you, or things around you, are spinning. Nearly 40% of people in the U.S. will have at least one episode of dizziness that is distressing enough to seek out help from a health professional, such as your Chiropractor at Cincinnati Chiropractic. That said, if you work at any of the jobs listed above, it is an excellent idea for you to see a chiropractor to have your balance checked prior to an unexpected episode of dizziness, rather than as a response to such an episode. Why? Because as a chiropractor, I can not only check your balance, and make corrections if necessary, but can aid you in maintaining good balance in the future. And, naturally, having good balance will likely save you from serious injury or worse.

Balance disorders are serious at any age. If you think that you might have a possible balance disorder, it is crucial for you to be evaluated and treated without delay. To help to make your decision easier if you can answer “yes” to any of the following questions, even if the experience is seldom or infrequent, it is highly recommended that you discuss the symptom(s) with a chiropractor as soon as possible:

• Have you experienced a feeling of being “unsteady?”

• Has the room seemed to spin around you?

• Has there ever a time when you felt as if you were moving when you knew you were standing still?

• Have you lost your balance and/or fallen down?

• Have you ever felt as if you were falling?

• Has your vision ever become “blurred?”

• Have you ever felt disoriented, or lost a sense of time, place or identity?

Remember: Balance problems are not specific to a particular age group. From the time we learn to walk until we take our final step, our falling down is an ever-present possibility. All the more reason to have your balance checked if you work in a job that makes your falling down a “critical” issue. Don’t wait until you sustain a work injury! Call a Chiropractor today, and if you’re in the Cincinnati area, I’d love to be your Cincinnati Chiropractor!

Technorati Tags: balance, chiropractic, falls, vertigo

Santa Barbara Chiropractor: 10 Most Frequent Questions

Controlling and maintaining body position while remaining still orin motion is the essential function of good balance. Good balance helps someone to walk without staggering, arise from a sitting position without slipping, and to climb stairs without tripping.

Nearly 9 percent of adults, age 65 and older, disclose having problems with balance. Good balance is vital in aiding an older person to stay independent, and implement daily chores and activities. Quite a few older men and women, however, experience dizziness, “wooziness,” and problems with balance.

The label, vertigo, refers to the sensation that a number of people have that they, themselves, or their environment is spinning. About 40 percent of individuals in the U.S. will encounter dizziness that is severe enough to go seek out a health professional. And, among older adults, falls are the leading cause of extreme injury and deaths.

Balance and Inner Ear Challenges

There are many types of balance disorders. Three conventional types are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, labyrinthitis, and Meniere’s disease. Of these three, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the most common. It presents as a brief, intense experience of vertigo when an individual changes head position. It can additionally be noticed when rolling over to the left or right in bed, upon getting out of bed in the morning, or when looking up for something on a high shelf. This affliction is more likely to happen in individuals 60 and older, but it can also happen in younger people.

There are diverse reasons for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. It may be created by an inner ear infection, head injury, or simply aging. Whereas it can be linked to other disease processes, often a simple Epleys procedure can fix the affliction. Your Santa Barbara Chiropractor has many years of experience in this procedure.

Labyrinthitis is an infection or iinflammation of the inner ear that cause dizziness and loss of balance. It affects adults of any age and the cause is uncertain.

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

Though those over 65 years are more likely to experience balance disorders, age is not the only explanation for why these problems happen. Therapy for balance disorders varies depending upon the cause. A chiropractor is well-educated in assessing and treating a large majority of the causes. On occasion, even simple exercises for vestibular rehab can be the solution to balance challenges. Call a health care professional, such as your Santa Barbara Chiropractor, if you have undergone, or are currently experiencing, dizziness, vertigo, or other problems with balance.

While some balance disorders are created by challenges in the inner ear, other disorders may include another area of the body, such as the brain or the heart. Head injury, stroke, certain medicines, circulation challenges, upper respiratory infections and other viral infections, stress, fatigue, smoking, alcohol use,  high or low blood pressure, and heart disease are all components that, along with aging and ear infection, may create balance disorders.

Balance disorders produced by high blood pressure can generally be managed by less sodium intake,cultivating a healthy weight, and exercise. To assist in making the symptoms of dizziness less severe, frequently 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 essential to have a suspected balance disorder diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.

If you can answer “yes” to any of these questions, 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.

Technorati Tags: balance, chiropractic, chiropractor, dizziness, falls, vertigo