Get clinical exam for balance problem

Q: I am having a hard time with balance — something that never happened to me before. I am 56, in pretty good health, and cannot figure out why I am so tippy and unstable feeling. I don’t even know what kind of doctor to go see. Any ideas?

Katherine F., Iowa City, Iowa

A: Having good balance is important. It protects you from falls, muscle aches and joint problems. Good balance also allows you to remain physically active and helps prevent depression associated with decreasing mobility.

Some astounding facts about falls from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury, and they send 800,000 people in the U.S. to the hospital annually. Globally, falls are the second-leading cause of death from unintentional injury.

As for what may be causing your balance problems and increasing your risk of falling, you need a clinical exam to determine the cause.

Some possible triggers are an ear infection or inner ear problems (that can make the room spin or give you vertigo), a head injury, poor blood circulation, certain medications, low or high blood pressure, neurological conditions, arthritis or some kind of chemical imbalance in your brain.

Sometimes it is related to a vitamin D deficiency! It can even come from anxiety that triggers rapid breathing.

Start with your primary care doc to see if you can eliminate any of the potential causes and focus in on what might be causing your instability. Review your medications first. Then get checked for blood pressure and circulatory issues and arthritis. Discuss whether you should be examined by a neurologist.

You may also want to get a prescription for physical therapy — balance training and learning-how-to-fall training can be effective, especially if you need to strengthen your legs and core.

You’re smart to take action quickly to find a solution — you do not want to risk a fall or overlook some treatable disorder. Good luck!