Raising Awareness to Defeat Dizziness

Submitted by Poonam McAllister, Central Illinois Institute of Balance

Abalance disorder, also known as a vestibular disorder, is a condition that makes you feel unsteady or dizzy. If you are standing, sitting, or lying down, you might feel as if you are moving, spinning, or floating. If you are walking, you might suddenly feel as if you are tipping over. Balance disorders can be caused by certain health conditions, medications, or a problem in the inner ear or the brain. A balance disorder can profoundly impact daily activities and cause psychological and emotional hardship.

Many people do not recognize the symptoms of a vestibular disorder, which is why the Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA) is striving to raise awareness about this debilitating condition. Balance Awareness Week was September 14 – 20th with the goal of reducing the time it takes to diagnose a vestibular disorder and encourage them to seek help from professional specialists.

To encourage family and friends to learn more about vestibular disorders so they can support their loved ones who are suffering from dizziness, VEDA offers the following top ten facts about Vestibular Disorders.

1. The vestibular system includes the parts of the inner ear and brain that process sensory information involved with balance.
2. Over 35 percent of US adults aged 40 years and older (69 million Americans) have had a vestibular dysfunction at some point in their lives.
3. Vestibular disorders can be caused by disease, injury, poisoning by drugs or chemicals, autoimmune causes, traumatic brain injury, or aging. Many vestibular disorders occur from unexplained causes.
4. Symptoms of vestibular disorders include dizziness, vertigo (a spinning sensation), imbalance, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), fatigue, jumping vision, nausea/vomiting, hearing loss, anxiety, and cognitive difficulties.
5. Vestibular disorders are difficult to diagnose. It is common for a patient to consult four or more physicians over a period of several years before receiving an accurate diagnosis.
6. There is no “cure” for most vestibular disorders. They may be treated with medication, physical therapy, lifestyle changes (e.g. diet, exercise), surgery, or positional maneuvers. In most cases, patients must adapt to a host of life-altering limitations.
7. Vestibular disorders impact patients and their families physically, mentally, and emotionally. In addition to physical symptoms such as dizziness and vertigo, vestibular patients can experience poor concentration, memory, and mental fatigue. Many vestibular patients suffer from anxiety and depression due to fear of falling and the loss of their independence.
8. Common vestibular disorders include benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), Ménière’s disease, labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis, and vestibular migraine.
9. In the US, medical care for patients with chronic balance disorders exceeds one billion dollars per year.
10. The Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA) is the largest patient organization providing information, support, and advocacy for vestibular patients worldwide.

For more information locally on any type of vestibular disorder, including problems with balance or dizziness, you may contact Poonam McAllister at Central Illinois Institute of Balance at 309-663-4900 or www.dizzyil.com. Poonam is specially trained in the evaluation and treatment of balance disorders using a comprehensive approach that looks at the complexities of balance problems in the context of the total patient. Her office is located at 211 Landmark Drive, Suite E-3 in Normal.