How seniors can get their balance back
Balance issues can pose a serious threat to individual health. When a person experiences issues with their balance, they may experience dizziness, lightheadedness and feel as if a room is spinning. Each of those factors can increase the risk for potentially harmful falls.
Seniors may not have the market cornered on balance issues, but the National Institute on Aging notes that many older adults experience such problems. The NIA also notes that people are more likely to have balance problems as they grow older. A number of variables can contribute to balance problems, including medications, health conditions like heart disease and vision problems, and alcohol consumption. The NIA notes that the remedy to balance issues may depend on what’s causing them, though some exercises that require individuals to move their heads and bodies in a certain way can help treat some balance disorders. A physical therapist or another professional with an understanding of the relationship between balance and various systems in the body also may be able to help.
When a specific cause, such as hypertension or low blood pressure, is identified, health care teams may be able to recommend various approaches to help seniors get their balance back.
Hypertension
A 2015 study published in The Journal of Physical Therapy Science found that hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, can negatively affect balance. The study found that this occurs because hypertension damages the large arteries and decreases microcirculation in specific functional areas, ultimately resulting in impairment that reduces a person’s ability to maintain a stable posture. Taking steps to address hypertension, such as eating less sodium, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly, may also lead to a reduction in balance problems related to the condition.
Low blood pressure
Low blood pressure also can contribute to balance problems. According to the American Geriatrics Society, sudden low blood pressure, which is also referred to as orthostatic hypotension, can manifest when sitting up and standing up. When it does, a person may experience dizziness or lightheadedness, which may last just a few seconds or several minutes. The AGS notes that dizziness related to low blood pressure also may appear within one to three minutes of sitting up or standing up, which means individuals may be vulnerable to falls even when they initially feel fine after sitting up or standing up. The NIA reports that individuals with low blood pressure can manage the issue by drinking plenty of fluids, including water, and avoiding alcohol. In addition, pay careful attention to posture and movements and make a concerted effort to stand up slowly.
Balance issues are often linked to aging, but that does not mean seniors are helpless against symptoms like dizziness and lightheadedness that are linked to problems with balance. Working with a health care team and identifying potential causes of balance issues can help seniors improve their health outcomes.