Few things make you feel as vulnerable as physical instability due to balance problems. The disorientation caused by feeling off kilter can cause you to be reticent about standing up and walking, driving, or even leaving your home.
These limitations lower your quality of life, so it’s not surprising that unsteadiness is also linked to anxiety and depression.
Fortunately, the talented, caring team at Houston Neurological Institute diagnoses and treats patients with balance disorders. They also offer education on ways you can improve your balance and customized treatment plans, because every patient’s balance problems are unique.
Our sense of balance is complex. We can treat the root cause of your instability and ensure that you can feel confident again about moving through the world.
One reason why balance issues are complicated is that they have many potential causes. These are just some:
Serious conditions like stroke, a brain tumor, or a traumatic brain injury also cause loss of balance. Simply getting older puts you at higher risk, as well.
Several of your body’s systems impact your balance — your sight, your inner ear (the vestibular system), your brain and nervous system, and your musculoskeletal system.
One of the most significant concerns when you experience a loss of balance and instability is that you’re at significant risk for falls and the broken bones and other injuries associated with them.
When any of the systems we listed becomes dysregulated, you may not only experience balance problems, but also a feeling where the room is spinning (vertigo), and an overall feeling of confusion. Instability can also cause you to faint.
In addition to treating balance disorders, your Houston Neurological Institute provider is happy to speak with you about what you can do to improve your balance. Here are five powerful ways to ensure that you feel confident on your feet.
The exercises you engage in during both of these activities require that you develop and stretch your core muscles (the muscles that surround your spine and stabilize your trunk and pelvis). These classes are challenging and enjoyable, plus you get the benefit of knowing you’re preserving your balance.
Certain exercises you can do at home help, as well, like shifting your weight back and forth from one leg to the other and holding for up to 30 seconds.
Another is lifting one foot to calf level, while leaning on the back of a chair, and holding for 10 seconds, and repeating 10-15 times. Then switch to the other side.
Toe raises are good too, when you lean on a chair or the wall and stand on your tiptoes for one second and then lower yourself down again. Repeat this 10-15 times, rest a bit, and then do another set.
Certain medications, including heart medications, antidepressants, and blood pressure medications, can affect balance. Review your medications with your doctor to make sure none are causing instability.
Allowing yourself to get dehydrated can lead to balance problems. Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water and other fluids throughout the day. It’s also important to go easy on caffeine and alcohol intake.
Vision changes can impact your balance. If you suddenly experience dizziness, look at when you last had your eyes checked and make an appointment.
We noted previously that balance problems are related to a plethora of health conditions, from Parkinson’s disease to circulation problems. Have an in-depth conversation with your doctor so you nip any potential instability in the bud before anything unfortunate happens, like a fall.
If you develop instability despite taking these steps, visit Houston Neurological Institute. We offer medications that can restore your balance, canalith repositioning (the dislodging of particles in the ear that cause instability), and for patients with labyrinthitis, clearing up the infection causing it addresses instability. Your doctor may also recommend using an assistive device like a cane or walker.
For individuals with chronic conditions like Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis, balance-training exercises can help.
Contact Houston Neurological Institute for help with balance issues by calling our Pearland or Pasadena office or booking with us online.
