Cincinnati Chiropractor

As a Cincinnati Chiropractor I treat plenty of older adults who are challenged by balance problems. In fact, nine percent of adults, aged 65 and over, experience dizziness, “wooziness,” and other balance-related conditions. Good balance is crucial, of course, in aiding older adults to remain independent and to avoid falling down and encounter injuries that are commonly very serious or even fatal. But, it may surprise you to know that falls produce a large percentage of work-related injuries for workers younger than 65 years of age, including individuals in their twenties and thirties. That’s right! No one is exempt from to balance problems, no matter how young they may be. It is for this reason that those who work at “dangerous heights” like construction workers, roofers, oil platform employees, windows cleaners, or any other place where a ladder is involved are far more vulnerable to serious injury if their balance isn’t good.

The essential activity of good balance is to aid 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 assists us in walking without stumbling, arising from a sitting position without swaying, and in climbing stairs without missing a step. It is obvious, then, that good balance is crucial to our health and well-being.

What is frequently surprising to some individuals is that they could have a balance abnormality without realizing how significant it is. Often times a person may be able to “shake off” a dizzy sensation and it may not come back for a while. However when sudden dizziness comes about at a decisive time, it is too late to shake it off and a fall is usually unpreventable.

The feeling by some people that they, personally, are spinning or that objects around them are moving is termed “vertigo.” Close to 40 percent of people in the U.S. will have at least one episode of dizziness that is acute enough to seek out a health professional, such as your Chiropractor in Cincinnati. But, 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 acute episode of dizziness, instead of as a response to such an episode. Why? Because as a chiropractor, I can not only check your balance, and make adjustments if needed, but can help you to maintain good balance in the future. And, of course, having good balance may save you from serious injury or worse.

Balance disorders at any age are risky. If you feel as if you might have a possible balance disorder, it is crucial for you to be diagnosed 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, you should 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?

As discussed above, balance problems are not confined to a particular age group. Our falling down is an ever-present possibility from the time we learn to walk until we take our final step If you work in a job that makes your falling down a “critical” event, you need to have your balance checked. Don’t wait until it’s too late! Call a Chiropractor today, and if you’re in the Cincinnati area, I’d love to be your Cincinnati Chiropractor!

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Santa Barbara Chiropractor: 10 Most Frequent Questions

Regulating and maintaining body position while staying still or moving is the principal function of good balance. Good balance helps someone to walk without faltering, arise from a sitting position without slipping, and to climb stairs without slipping.

Approximately 9 percent of adults, age 65 and older, report having challenges with balance. Good balance is vital in aiding an older person to stay independent, and perform daily chores and activities. Many older individuals, however, experience dizziness, “wooziness,” and problems with balance.

The label, vertigo, applies to the sensation that a number of people have that they, themselves, or the things around them are spinning. About 40 percent of Americans will encounter dizziness that is consequential enough to go seek medical assistance. And, among older adults, falls are the prevailing cause of extreme injury and deaths.

Balance and Inner Ear Conditions

There are quite a few kinds of balance disorders. Three familiar types are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, labyrinthitis, and Meniere’s disease. 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, but it can also happen in younger individuals.

There are diverse causes for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. It may be caused by an inner ear infection, head injury, or simply aging. Even though it can be connected with other disease processes, many times a simple Epleys procedure can fix the condition. Your Santa Barbara Chiropractor has many years of experience in this procedure.

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

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

Although people who are older are more likely to encounter balance disorders, age is not the only reason these problems happen. Treatment for balance disorders varies depending upon the reason. Many times, there’s a simple resolution to balance problems, such as simple exercises for vestibular rehab. A chiropractor is well-educated in analyzing and treating many of balance problems. Call a health care professional, such as your Santa Barbara Chiropractor, if you have encountered, or are currently experiencing, dizziness, vertigo, or other challenges with balance.

Although some balance disorders are created by problems in the inner ear, other disorders may involve another part of the body, such as the brain or the heart. Head injury, stroke, certain medicines, circulation problems, upper respiratory infections and other viral infections, stress, fatigue, smoking, alcohol use,  high or low blood pressure, and heart disease are all influences that, in addition to aging and ear infection, may cause balance disorders.

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

Balance disorders are significant. It is the number one cause of falls and fall-related injuries in older people. It is extremely important 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