The way that your body controls your balance is highly complex, and yet most of the time it occurs automatically and you do not have to think about it. It is only when it stops working properly, that you realise how much you depend upon it. Balance problems are extremely common; it is estimated that 40% of the population over the age of 40 will experience problems with their balance, and 60 % of 60 year olds will also experience balance problems.
We all use three main sources of information to help us balance:
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From our eyes to see where we are in relation to the outside world
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From sensors in our muscles and joints to determine body position in relation to the outside world |
From balance organs in our inner ears to sense head movement |
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How Do Our Ears Help Us Balance? |
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The balance organ in the inner ear consists of three semi-circular canals, and two other balance organs which detect body position and movement. Each of these organs contains tiny hair cells which are continuously sending information to the brain, where the signals are combined with those from your eyes and muscles.
What happens when I go dizzy? |
| Dizziness is very common, and occurs when the brain receives conflicting signals from the three senses for balance. Different people describe their symptoms in different ways; you may feel lightheaded or woozy, unsteady on your feet, as though things are out of focus or some people describe a “woolly” feeling in the head. Sometimes the onset of dizziness can be very sudden and extremely frightening. If the symptoms are severe, you may feel or be sick and moving your head or body will make the symptoms seem worse. Over longer periods, other symptoms can often accompany dizziness, such as difficulty in concentrating, fatigue, anxiety and headaches or neck pain. |
So why do I feel dizzy? |
There are many causes of balance problems, some of which may be related to your ears, eyes or muscles, or sometimes balance problems can be caused by other medical conditions, or the medication you need to take for those conditions. Stress and anxiety can have a huge impact on the body’s ability to balance and can also cause dizziness.
It is therefore important that if you feel dizzy, you consult your GP in the first instance. He / she will be able to advise you on the best course of action, which may include referral to an Ear Nose and Throat Consultant or referral for diagnostic testing. |
What treatment is there for balance problems |
Most dizziness responds well to treatment. Although medication can be helpful in the early and more severe stages of dizziness, it is not usually recommended on a long term basis as it may slow down your natural recovery. Reducing or stopping balance medication should always be done in consultation with your medical practitioner, who knows you, your symptoms and your medical history.
The brain is very good at readjusting to balance problems and after a few days or weeks most people feel better. This is called “central compensation”. In the early stages of recovery, compensation is not always 100% efficient and you may feel better on some days than others. This does not mean that the original condition is coming back or that the problem is getting worse.
You will help your natural recovery if you carry out normal movements. This means that your brain will receive the balancing information it needs to ‘adapt’ and make up for the balance upset. Some people find that their recovery is not complete, or is slower than they would like, and in these cases a balance rehabilitation programme may be helpful. Please contact us for further details. We may need you to see a medical ENT consultant first, or to undertake some specialist assessments before commencing this programme. |
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