Feeling off balance is disorienting, downright scary, and puts you at risk for a nasty fall.
There are many possible causes of balance issues, so it’s important before you get treated you have an accurate diagnosis. Only then can your provider devise a customized and successful treatment plan.
At Houston Neurological Institute, our accomplished and sensitive providers can help you if you’re experiencing the distress and worry that accompany physical instability. We examine your health history and current symptoms to determine whether your balance issue is being caused by a condition we can correct and resolve with treatment, or if it’s related to a chronic condition. Either way, we can help.
When you’re coping with balance challenges, you can experience more symptoms than simply feeling unsteady and unsure on your feet:
Multiple body systems must be in good working order for you to stay in balance. These include your heart, bones, muscles, joints, eyes, and your vestibular system, located in your inner ear.
When you visit us at Houston Neurological Institute, your provider carefully evaluates you and considers which of many causes of balance problems might be affecting you. These include everything from an inner ear infection like labrynthitis and vestibular neuritis (vestibular nerve inflammation) to Meniere’s disease and hydrocephalus (an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain).
Another inner ear disorder that affects patients is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which causes periods of vertigo, but only when you move your head in a certain way.
Chronic conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis, can also lead to balance problems, and traumatic brain injury and brain tumors are culprits, as well. Simply getting older puts you at higher risk for having to cope with balance troubles, too.
Fortunately, you can take steps to noticeably improve your balance in addition to getting accurately diagnosed and treated at Houston Neurological Institute.
This Chinese martial art involves performing fluid movements and specific poses that strengthen your balance.
Other balance-promoting forms of exercise include yoga and Pilates. Each builds muscle and core strength, which are both boons to good balance.
You can perform specific balance-strengthening exercises as well, such as one-legged stands, shifting your weight from one foot to another, squats, and standing on your tiptoes for a short period. Don’t feel bad if you need to be near a chair or wall to hold onto to help you maintain your balance.
A nutrient-dense diet is the foundation your body requires to perform its best, so don’t neglect eating well.
Simply drinking enough throughout the day keeps your body working efficiently and your vestibular system in good working order.
Sometimes a prescription medication can be linked to balance problems. Discuss your medications with your Houston Neurological Institute provider so they can review them for any that might be associated with balance issues.
Some meds that affect balance include certain antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, high blood pressure medicine, heart drugs, and diabetes medications, among others.
Vision problems affect balance, so it’s important to keep your regular appointments with your eye doctor to ensure any balance issues aren’t related to a vision problem.
You’ll feel empowered knowing you’re doing all you can to maintain good balance and stability when you check off the items on this to-do list.
The treatment plan your Houston Neurological Institute provider creates to address your balance problem will be directly tied to what’s causing your symptoms. Potential solutions include:
By seeking care at Houston Neurological Institute, you’re taking the first critical step to solve a frightening balance problem, which can rob you of feeling physically confident, safe, and independent.
Contact our conveniently located Pasadena or Pearland office to get started on the path to physical stability, or book an appointment online with us.
